The Abbreviation of the Introduction to Astrology

Abū Ma‘šar (787-886, in Western Europe known as Albumasar) was the best known astrologer of the Middle Ages in both the Islamic world and the Christian West. His master-work was the Great Introduction to astrology, which was copied into numerous Arabic manuscripts, translated twice into Latin, and printed in the Renaissance. However, he himself made an abbreviation of this work, which summarised the astrological information in the larger work in a convenient way. This abbreviation survives in two Arabic manuscripts and a Latin translation made by Adelard of Bath in the early twelfth century. The Abbreviation of the Introduction to Astrology contains the first edition of the Abbreviation and the Latin translation, with English translations of both texts and several indexes. As well as being of interest to cultural historians it should serve as a useful introduction to medieval astrology.