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The history of astrology can be traced back to the 2nd millennium BC, the time of the ancient Babylonians. It was during this time that they had started assembling their system of celestial omens. These omens slowly gave rise to the astrological principles and methods that were found to have developed in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. In fact , it is these celestial omens that are believed to have spread from Babylonia to the other countries, like India, China, Greece, etc, and merged with the pre-existing native forms of astrology.

In fact, the Babylonian astrology is said to have influenced the Greeks as early as the mid-4th century BC. Its influence in Egypt was noticed somewhere around the late 2nd or early 1st century BC, after the Alexandrian conquests. Babylonian astrology merged easily with the Decant astrology of the Egyptians and made way for the Horoscopic astrology. Even though the origin of the Horoscope astrology was limited to Egypt, it soon spread to the ancient world of Europe, the Middle East as well as India.

As we move on further with the historical background of astrology, we notice that it played a constructive role in the development of astronomy, mathematics, medicine and psychology, right from the classical period to the period of the scientific revolution. As far as astronomy is concerned, it was astrology that provided the first methodical records of the movements of the Sun, the Moon, the planets and the stars. Infact, in the earlier ages, the distinction between astrology and astronomy was almost impossible to make.

However, there were numerous critics of astrology, especially before the modern era. In fact, it was very often challenged by Hellenistic skeptics, church authorities and even medieval thinkers. With time, astrological endeavors were repeated across numerous cultures. These endeavors enriched the field of astronomical knowledge. It was because of this contribution that astrology came to be known as a Proto science as well as Pseudoscience. Renowned scientists, like Galileo, Kepler, Carl Jung, Copernicus, etc, have made significant contributions in the field of astrology.

Horoscope Astrology
The system of horoscope astrology is developed in the Mediterranean region, specifically Hellenistic Egypt. A precise and intricate system, it dates back to the late 2nd or early 1st century BC. In this tradition of astrology, the emphasis is on the two-dimensional diagrams of the universe, known as horoscopes, which are drawn for some definite moments in time. The horoscopes are used to study the position of celestial bodies at that specific moment and then deduce some meaning from it.

However, the diagrams, the position as well as the meaning are ascertained on the basis of a predetermined set of rules and guidelines. Usually, a horoscope is prepared for the moment when an individual is born. However, it can also be made at the beginning of an enterprise or event, to have an idea about its probable outcome. Horoscopic astrology is quite different from the other types of astrology, as it is based on the calculation of Eastern horizon's degree, rising against the backdrop of the ecliptic at a specific moment, known as the ascendant.

Horoscope
Horoscope astrology revolves around the calculation of an astrological chart, known as the horoscope. It is basically a two-dimensional diagram, which helps in ascertaining the position of the celestial bodies, on the basis of the given time and location on earth. In astrology, a horoscope stands divided into twelve different celestial houses, each of them governing a different area of life. Simple arithmetic and geometrical calculation are done to find the apparent positions of heavenly bodies on desired dates and times, based on astronomical tables.

In the ancient Hellenistic astrology, the first celestial house of a horoscope used to be defined by the ascendant. Indian, Medieval and most of the modern Western traditions of astrology have originated from Hellenistic astrology only. However, in the modern times, the astrological chart is referred to as a whole. Horoscopic astrology has been one of the most influential as well widespread forms of astrology across the world, especially in Africa, India, Europe and the Middle East.

Zodiacs
Zodiac is basically the belt or band of constellations through which the Sun, Moon as well as the planets pass. The astrologers used to make their readings as well as their predictions on the basis of these constellations only. With time, the constellations started gaining more and more importance. Gradually, a whole system, based on the twelve important constellations, was developed, comprising of the twelve signs of the zodiac. The three traditions of the modern astrology, namely Western, Indian and Chinese, are also based on the twelve zodiacal signs.

The Western and Indian traditions share a common origin and are very much similar in their meaning. The Chinese astrology, though based on twelve signs, developed on an entirely different basis. Their signs are named after animals and they refer to a pure calendrical cycle. All the three forms make use of the same number of zodiac signs, since they are all based on the interaction of the Sun and the Moon. The twelve cycles of the Moon i.e., the months, coincide with one solar year, thus the number twelve.

Western Zodiac
The western astrologers mainly base their calculations on the tropical zodiac, in which the sky stands divided into twelve equal segments of 30 degrees each. The first point of the zodiac is Aries and the last point comprises of Pisces. The zodiacal signs in this system have no relation to the constellations of the same name; rather they stay associated with the months and seasons. This is because of the slow changing of the way Earth rotates in space. The tropical zodiac is also used as a historical coordinate system in astronomy. The twelve signs are:

Aries - The Ram (0 deg)
Taurus - The Bull (30 deg)
Gemini - The Twins (60 deg)
Cancer - The Crab (90 deg)
vLeo - The Lion (120 deg)
Virgo - The Virgin (150 deg)
Libra - The Scales (180 deg)
Scorpio - The Scorpion (210 deg)
Sagittarius - The Archer (240 deg)
Capricorn - The Sea-goat (270 deg)
Aquarius - The Water Carrier (300 deg)
Pisces - The Fish (330 deg)

Indian Zodiac
The Indian astrological tradition is based on the sidereal zodiac, which makes use of the same evenly divided ecliptic as the western tradition. However, in this case, the zodiac signs stayed aligned with the position of the constellations bearing the same name. The names of the Hindu zodiacal signs (rashis) are similar to Graeco-Babylonian signs. These twelve signs of Indian zodiac are:

Mesha "Ram" (Aries)
Vrishabha "Bull" (Taurus)
Mithuna "A Pair" (Gemini)
Karka "Crab" (Cancer)
Singha "Lion" (Leo)
Kanya "Girl" (Virgo)
Tula "Balance" (Libra)
Vrashchik "Scorpion" (Scorpio)
Dhanus "Armed with a Bow" (Sagittarius)
Makara "Sea Monster" (Capricorn)
Kumbha "Pitcher" (Aquarius)
Matsya "Fish" (Pisces)

Chinese Zodiac
Chinese astrology is also based on twelve signs, which correspond to the twelve months of a year. The extent of a zodiacal sign is related to the path that is covered by Sun between the two new moons. Chinese zodiac also consists of animals and each of the animals is linked with one month as well as one solar year. The animals of the Chinese Zodiac are: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit (or hare), dragon, snake, horse, sheep (or goat), monkey, rooster (or phoenix), dog and pig (or boar