A. Tunç Şen, Forgotten Experts: Astrologers, Science, and Authority in the Ottoman Empire 1450–1600. Redwood City, CA: Stanford University Press, 2025. Pp. 352. ISBN 978-1-5036-4265-2. 65. 00 (hardcover).

Key Points

• To explore the intersection of astrology, science, and authority in the Ottoman Empire from 1450 to 1600.
• Historical analysis of texts and records from the Ottoman Empire
• Examination of the roles of astrologers within scientific communities
• Comparative analysis of astrology's status relative to other sciences
• Astrologers played a significant role in shaping scientific discourse.
• The authority of astrologers was often intertwined with political power.
• Astrology was recognized as a legitimate field of knowledge alongside other sciences.