This thoroughly researched book is a history of the development of Western horoscopic astrology from its origin among the Babylonians and its subsequent creation in its present form by the Alexandrians down to modern times. Special attention is given to background history and to the working conditions and techniques used by astrologers during the last two thousand years. Numerous footnotes provide additional information and bibliographic references. A separate bibliography lists reference sources of particular importance. Two comprehensive indices containing more than 2,800 individual entries enable the reader to locate persons, publishers, topics, and book and periodical titles that are mentioned in the history. The book also contains discussions of several questions and topics relating to astrology. James Herschel Holden is Research Director of the American Federation of Astrologers and has been especially interested in the history of astrology.

This book contains translations of five astrological treatises by Medieval astrologers: Albumasar: The Book of Flowers, an anthology of rules for Mundane Astrology; Ptolemy: The Centiloquy; Hermes Trismegistus: The Centiloquy; Bethen: The Centiloquy; Almansor: The One Hundred and Fifty Propositions. This is the first comprehensive publication of these treatises, which were translated by James Herschel Holden, Research Director of the American Federation of Astrologers. He is especially interested in Classical and Medieval astrological works.