In the history of ideas about the heavens, what was the main ancient goal of astrology as practised in many early civilisations?

Introduction / Context:
This question distinguishes between astrology and astronomy in ancient times. Many early civilisations carefully observed the sky, but their purposes were not always purely scientific. Astrology grew out of these observations and tried to connect the positions of stars and planets with events in human life. Modern exams often ask what astrology was originally meant to do, so it is important to separate its main goal from later scientific aims of astronomy.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The subject is ancient astrology, not modern astronomy.
- The question asks for the main goal of astrology in early civilisations.
- The options include building scientific models, predicting human events, understanding Earths origin, tracking seasons and sending spacecraft.
- We assume a basic awareness that astrology deals with interpreting celestial positions for human affairs.

Concept / Approach:
Astrology is based on the belief that the positions and movements of celestial bodies influence human destiny and events on Earth. Ancient astrologers drew charts for kings, individuals and empires, predicting battles, harvests and personal fortunes. Astronomy, which seeks to understand the physical universe, later separated itself from these predictive and symbolic practices. The correct approach is therefore to look for the option that clearly mentions predicting human events and fortunes, rather than scientific modelling of the universe or modern space exploration.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that astrology uses horoscopes and birth charts to relate the positions of planets and stars to human lives. Step 2: Understand that rulers in ancient Mesopotamia, India, China and other regions consulted astrologers for guidance on war, marriage, coronations and major decisions. Step 3: Notice that none of these activities involve building precise scientific models or understanding the physical origin of the Earth. Step 4: Examine the options and identify the one that explicitly mentions predicting human events and personal fortunes using celestial positions. Step 5: Reject options that describe purely scientific goals, such as spacecraft navigation or mathematical modelling of planetary motion, because these belong to astronomy, not astrology.

Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative check is to think of how astrology is still commonly viewed today. People consult horoscopes to learn about their future, personality or life events, which fits the idea of predicting human outcomes. Even though modern science does not accept these claims, the purpose remains the same as in ancient times. Astronomy textbooks, on the other hand, explain planets, stars and galaxies without making predictions about individual lives. This clear difference confirms that prediction of human events is the central goal of astrology.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
To construct an accurate scientific model of the universe based only on mathematics and observation: This describes the goal of astronomy and modern physics, not astrology.
To understand the geological origin and physical formation of the Earth as a planet: This is a concern of geology and planetary science, not the symbolic practice of astrology.
To predict the exact passing of the seasons only for agricultural purposes, without any link to human affairs: Tracking seasons is part of early astronomy and calendar making; astrology goes further by linking the heavens to human events.
To calculate the precise laws of planetary motion in order to send spacecraft beyond Earth: Space travel and precise orbital mechanics are modern scientific achievements, far beyond the scope of ancient astrology.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse astrology with astronomy because both involve the sky. A common mistake is to assume that any study of stars must have been scientific in the modern sense. Another pitfall is to believe that astrology primarily tracked seasons, when in fact it focused on the influence of celestial events on human life. Remembering that astrology centres on human predictions, while astronomy centres on understanding celestial objects themselves, helps you select the correct option quickly.

Final Answer:
The ancient goal of astrology was to predict human events, personal fortunes and worldly outcomes from the positions of celestial bodies.