astronomy, outlining how ancient civilizations recorded celestial phenomena as part of their attempts to predict earthly events. In the first chapter, Forbes discusses primitive astronomy and astrology, highlighting how early humans observed the seasons and celestial bodies' movements to develop rudimentary scientific notation. He emphasizes the importance of these ancient astronomers' observations, noting that despite their sometimes misguided beliefs, they laid the groundwork for future astronomical understanding. This opening serves as an introduction to the complexities and advancements in astronomical studies that the following chapters will explore in greater detail. (This is an automatically generated summary.)