Astronomy began with philosophers and their theories. Pythagoras was the earliest known Greek astronomer. He developed the concept of the earth as the center of the universe. Ptolemy rejected Pythagoras’ theory, and claimed that the sun was the center of our universe. Hipparchus created a theory based on the geometry of circles. He believed that the sun and moon moved around Earth in a circle, and the Earth was not the center of the universe. Ptolemy was the most influential philosopher during 100 A.D. He accepted Hipparchus’s theory, and then preceded to expand on it. He believed that the orbits were interlocking circular orbits. Brahe had a theory that the sun revolved around the earth, and

With the rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire, the importance of astrology declined. Christians regarded divination as a form of pagan magic, and therefore unchristian. The Christian church then banned divination, and Christian emperors enforced this ban. In 357 A.D., the emperor made fortune-telling a crime punishable by death. Because of this, astrology was ended. (Moulton 79).

One reason that the sun, moon, planets, and stars attracted so much attention in the ancient world was because the heavenly bodies were believed to affect human lives and earthly events. This influence soon became known as astrology. Many astronomical philosophers also believed in astrology. (Moulton 78).

Centuries later, astrology and astronomy once again was studied. Astronomy is still used today. Farmers and sailors also still use the stars, moons, and planets in helping with their seasonal activities.

People believed that the

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