I've been doing this kind of thinking for years, but my stories are science fiction, so it follows. I don't know how well anyone has thought about this, but if one is particular as to include astrology, astronomy, and the like, don't neglect other physical sciences. Sociology and cultural developments based on resources and realistic aspects are important, but remember geology has influence too. Galveston, Texas would have been the Dallas of the state except for a hurricane; England would be almost subtropical if not for the Isthmus of Panama; any number of islands or resources have been lost from tsunami or vulcanism. They may be peripheral factors most of the time, but occasionally they are the linchpins of history... even artificial history.