After a several hundred year “heyday” in ancient Greek and then Roman culture - astrology in the Western world, while never totally dying out, became rather quiet during the period of time now called the Middle Ages. During this time, astrology continued to flourish and evolve in other cultural environments. However... in Western world cultures, in fourth century AD, the Christian Church was busily at work establishing itself as the predominant Western world political power and belief system during the next several hundred years.

Suffice to say that during the Christian Church's rule in the medieval period, the Church in Rome vacillated back and forth over its official viewpoint and level of tolerance regarding astrology. At times Christian church leaders condemned astrology and astrologers as being heretical, while at other times church leaders sought out the guidance of astrologers. According to historian Valerie Flint (The Rise of Magic In Early Medieval Europe), in the early Middle Ages, some Christian church leaders actually encouraged a belief in astrology in order to keep believers away from what seemed to be more dangerous magical practices. Some church officials during this very large span of time, such as French Cardinal Pierre d'Ailly (1350-1420), were practicing astrologers.

For the most part, in the Western world, astrology kept its low profile until a reemergence and renewal during the European Renaissance.