In medieval universities, astronomy and astrology were taught as part of the mathematical sciences (quadrivium) in the Faculty of Arts curriculum. As shown by the official statutes, there was a relative marginalization of the teaching of mathematics compared to natural philosophy at the University of Paris and Oxford. However, this does not accurately reflect the actual transmission of scientific knowledge within the university setting at that time. As will be demonstrated in this paper, a teaching did take place, but outside of the established framework and encompassed two types of learning. The first type was confined to introductory or elementary texts and was predominantly intended for the Faculty of Arts. Concurrent with this propaedeutic learning was the more expert practice of the science of the stars by masters experienced in the subject and pursuing studies in one of the three higher faculties, most often the faculties of theology and medicine. These medieval scholars collaborated with one another, transmitting their knowledge to disciples and producing astronomical and astrological texts of a high level of expertise. This paper will examine the ways in which astronomy and astrology were learned and practiced in these two different settings, with a special focus on groups of medieval scholars, experts in the cientia stellarum.

Dr Laure Miolo is currently the Lyell Fellow in Latin Palaeography and Dilts Fellow at Lincoln College. She teaches Latin and French palaeography, diplomatic and manuscript studies at the University of Oxford. Her research concentrates on manuscript production and use, their scribes, scripts and contents, and the history of medieval libraries, with a particular focus on scientific books and practices. She is particularly interested in the production and circulation of scientific manuscripts in medieval universities. She has published a number of articles on the subject. Amongst her more recent publications is the co-edition of a special issue of the Cahiers de recherches médiévales et humanistes dedicated to the relationship between astronomy and astrology in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Her book on the scientific collection of the early collège de Sorbonne (1257–1500) will be published in 2026 by Brepols.