In this session of “10 Questions for the Historian of Science,” I talked to Luís Campos Ribeiro about his research and the field of history of science. Luís visited ASTRA in October 2025 and is affiliated with the Celestial Counselors: Astrologers at the Crossroads of Power in Islamicate Courts working group at ASTRA.
Luís Campos Ribeiro. Source: Luís Campos Ribeiro, 2026.
Ole Birk Laursen: What is your academic background?
Luís Campos Ribeiro: My name is Luís Campos Ribeiro, and I am a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Lisbon. My PhD was in History of Science, but my MA and BA were in Art History. Before that I also studied Geology and Chemistry.
Ole Birk Laursen: What is the topic of your research and how did you become interested in this?
Luís Campos Ribeiro: History of Astrology in general, astrological practices and methodologies during the late medieval and early modern periods. Additionally, cosmology, history of astronomy, and medicine, as related to astrological and prognostication practices. This topic has been a long interest of mine; I have studied astrological practices for many years and its long history as part of human culture fascinates me.
Ole Birk Laursen: What are your working theories and methods?
Luís Campos Ribeiro: My main sources are mathematical, astronomical, and astrological documents, mainly manuscripts, but also printed books and almanacs. These can include observations of celestial phenomena, prognostications, collections of horoscopes, and others. These are mainly accessed through archival research, so frequent visits to libraries and archives are essential for consulting these works. Unfortunately, not all are available in digital format, even though digital formats have become an important tool in the last two decades. Their study involves reading and transcribing texts for study and editing. It also requires reconstruction of astrological charts and analysis of their interpretations and their sources.
Ole Birk Laursen: How is your research situated within the field of the history of science?
Luís Campos Ribeiro: Although the history of astrology can be a part of cultural history, in a broader sense, its close connection with mathematics, astronomy, and medicine makes it an essential part of the pre-modern history of science. However, my research has also encompassed the history of religion and art history.
Ole Birk Laursen: What is the state of the history of science today?
Luís Campos Ribeiro: It seems to be an expanding field, as science and technology have become significant parts of modern life. Possibly because of this, as with other historical disciplines, the study of the history of science has gradually shifted toward the modern era, with antiquity, the medieval period, and even the early modern period losing prominence in history.
Ole Birk Laursen: Why do we need to study the history of science?
Luís Campos Ribeiro: Following the previous reasoning, since science is an essential part of modern life and culture, studying its history and development becomes fundamental.
Ole Birk Laursen: What is the value and impact of your research today? How does it connect with contemporary debates in broader society?
Luís Campos Ribeiro: Although astrology is no longer considered part of science today, it remains an important aspect of modern culture. It also plays a significant role in the history of prognostication and cosmology and continues to be relevant to the ongoing human search for meaning. While it is not easy to integrate it into contemporary scientific discussions, it serves as an example of how “science” and “scientific objects” can change over time.
Ole Birk Laursen: Are there any unusual stories you have come across in your research? Anything that changed your perception of dominant historical narratives?
Luís Campos Ribeiro: The history of astrology can be viewed as a change in how people perceive dominant historical narratives. Not long ago, and to some extent even today, astrology was considered an unworthy subject for historical study, and despite its important role in pre-modern culture, we still have significant gaps in understanding its history. The academic study of astrology continues to transform the way we view the history of science and its actors.
Ole Birk Laursen: What are your plans for future research?
Luís Campos Ribeiro: Over the next few years, I will research the practice and practitioners of astrology in early modern Europe and how the period's cosmological shifts influenced these practices. This forms part of my current research project at the University of Lisbon and includes, among other topics, the use of astrology in early modern oceanic journeys and its practice in the southern hemisphere.
Ole Birk Laursen: What is the future of the history of science?
Luís Campos Ribeiro: I would hope that the history of science could become part of standard undergraduate programmes or even high school curricula, in the same way that art history has. Additionally, I would like to see a reversal of the excessive focus on contemporary history towards a more balanced approach across all periods.
Ole Birk Laursen: Thank you for your participation in this interview.