Short Course
An Introduction to Medieval Cosmology
With Dr. Nicholas Campion and Dr. Chris Mitchell
Celebrating the 21st anniversary of the Sophia Centre
The Medieval Cosmos was full of meaning. It was pervaded with divine will, while the stars and planets were signs of coming events and spread their influence throughout the natural world. This was a world where magic was part of everyday experience and, through knowledge of the powers and forces of the cosmos, one could free one’s self from fate.
This five-week short course explores the cosmology of the mediaeval era, from the eighth century to the 13th century. We will introduce three key features of humanity's relationship with the stars and planets: one is the relationship with the divine and the care of the soul, the second is astrology, the analysis of planetary movements and patterns in order to identify their significance, meaning or influence; the third is the notion of Harmony, and the idea that human beings should actively strive to maintain harmony between Heaven and Earth. We will spend two weeks looking at the Islamic world and three weeks at the Christian and Jewish European world.
The topics will include the structure of the cosmos, theories of fate and free will, attitudes to the stars and astrology in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, key examples of astrological technique and horoscopes and how astrology was used to look at history.
Delivery
The course is taught live online using Zoom and recorded in order to enable asynchronous learning. Each seminar will have time for Q & A's. You will be able to access the full course – recordings and handouts - for personal revision until the end of May 2023.
Moodle
All students will be able to log into the course page on Moodle where all the recordings of the lectures will be uploaded after each session. Also in this area are extensive support material plus a weekly discussion forum for additional questions or general comments.
Dates
Please notice: We have postponed this course until a later date. We will send out a notification when it is rescheduled
The seminars will be held on Thursdays at 16:00 – 18:00 UK time. The first seminar is Thursday 30 March and then 13 April, 25 April (please note the seminar is on TUESDAY this week), 4 May and 11 May. Please note that the UK goes on to summer time on 26 March.
Certificate of Attendance
All students will receive a Certificate of Attendance from the Sophia Centre Press and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.
Course Topics
The course will consist of five two-hour seminars consisting of lectures together with discussion and question and answer sessions.
Teaching staff
Dr. Nicholas Campion is Director of the Harmony Institute, Associate Professor in Cosmology and Culture, Principal Lecturer in the Institute of Education and Humanities and Director of the Sophia Centre for the Study of Cosmology in Culture at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. He is Programme Director of the University's MAs in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology, and Ecology and Spirituality. His books include the two-volume History of Western Astrology (Bloomsbury 2008/9), and Astrology and Cosmology in the World's Religions (New York University Press, 2012).
Dr. Chris Mitchell was awarded his PhD by the University of Leicester on 'Roger of Hereford's Judicial Astrology: England's First Astrology Book?', a study of Roger of Hereford, the twelfth-century translator and astrologer. Chris is a graduate of the MA in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology and currently teaches on the programme at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. He also teaches at the University of Leicester. He holds a diploma in Medieval Astrology from Astrologos and has given talks to groups and conferences in Europe and the US. He is the author of England’s First Astrology Book (Almuten Figuris Press, 2021), which is based on his PhD.
Course Topics
(These may change a little as we go through the course).
Week 1 – Islamic World 1
We will begin with general introductions and orientation, and instructions on using Moodle and the online forum. We will then look at the general historical context and the main astrologers of the Islamic world, the concept of Harmony between Heaven and Earth, the Qur'an on God and the stars and signs and Aristotle, a favoured classical philosopher on natural influences and causes. We will then look at the Arabic parts in astrology.
Week 2 - Islamic World 2
We will introduce horary astrology through the work of Sahl ibn Bishr and historical astrology and the use of Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions through Masha'allah and Abu Ma'shar. We will include the built environment: Islamic patterns, mosques, the qibla, horoscope of Baghdad and the legacy of the astrology of the Islamic world.
Week 3 - Europe 1
After setting the historical context we will introduce the work of St Augustine and Isidore of Seville, who defined Christian attitudes to astrology, and look at the state of astrology in Europe up to 1100. We will then go on to introduce computus and methods for the calculation of Easter, the Christian cosmos and its structure and meaning. We will conclude by looking at the translation of Arabic texts into Latin, al Qabisi, Adelard of Bath, and the complexities of horoscope calculation.
Week 4 – Europe 2
We will begin by looking at the claims and philosophy of Claudius Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos, the most influential astrological text book, and then move on to look at the work of Roger of Hereford, England's first astrologer, including his horary astrology, and debates concerning the soul, the stars and free will.
Week 5 – Europe 3
This week we look at Judaism and Astrology, astrological magic and Levi ben Gerson’s predictions for 1345. We will then wind up with general thoughts, discussion and conclusion.
Registration
The cost is £150 which covers all five lectures.
By registering I agree to follow the Sophia Project netiquette guide.
To register and pay, please click the blue button Make Payment.
Registration is closed - course postponed
The acknowledgement of payment from PayPal will be sent to the email address that you have registered with PayPal. The day before the course starts, the link to join the seminar will also be sent to this address. If you wish the link to be sent to a different email address, please contact sophiacentre@sophia-project.net
Student & Alumni rate is £120
Students and alumni of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David get a discount for this short course. Please register and pay by clicking the button below.
Registration is closed - course postponed
You should register by Paypal if possible but, if you can't, email Dr Nick Campion at n.campion@uwtsd.ac.uk and you can arrange to pay by cheque or bank transfer.
Recommended Books
We will be posting course material online. However, these three books are highly recommended and available from Amazon or other booksellers.
Nicholas Campion, A History of Western Astrology, Vol 2, The Medieval and Modern Worlds (London: Bloomsbury, 2009).
Chris Mitchell, England’s First Astrology Book: Roger of Hereford's Judicial Astrology (Leicester: Almuten Figuris Publications, 2021).
Charles Burnett and Dorian Gieseler Greenbaum (eds), From Masha'allah to Kepler: Theory and Practice in Medieval and Renaissance Astrology (Lampeter: Sophia Centre Press, 2015).
Terms and Conditions
Fees and Refunds – Fees must be paid in full before the commencement of the course. Refunds will be made if a student withdraws from the course before it commences. There are no refunds after student logs into the Course Moodle page which is opened up two days before the course begins.
Forum conduct - All students are expected to follow the netiquette guide and be respectful of other students and the tutor in their forum posts. The course tutor will remove any postings they consider to be inappropriate. The course tutor also reserves the right to block a student from posting on the forums if the student disregards a request by the tutor to revise their forum conduct.
Zoom conduct – Students attending the Zoom lectures live are expected to be focused on these lectures and only use the chat box for question directed at the lecture material. Students who misuse the chat box will be removed from the lecture.
Technology – It is the student's responsibility to ensure that they have sufficient broadband and sufficient skills in operating their computer or tablet to enable them to engage with this online course.
Sophia Centre Short Courses are taught as part of our outreach programme from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. If you would like to take your studies further, you may apply for our unique, on-line, fully accredited Master's programme in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology, the only academic programme in the world to look explore our relationship with the sky, and the history, philosophy and culture of astrology.
Welcome to the public outreach page of the Sophia Centre for the Study of Cosmology in Culture at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, with information about studying with the University, as well as links to related conferences, classes, publications and events. To go straight to the Sophia Centre's University page please go here.
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