The purpose of this book is to introduce algebraic topology using the novel approach of homotopy theory, an approach with clear applications in algebraic geometry as understood by Lawson and Voevodsky. This method allows the authors to cover the material more efficiently than the more common method using homological algebra. The basic concepts of homotopy theory, such as fibrations and cofibrations, are used to construct singular homology and cohomology, as well as K-theory. Throughout the text many other fundamental concepts are introduced, including the construction of the characteristic classes of vector bundles. Although functors appear constantly throughout the text, no knowledge about category theory is expected from the reader. This book is intended for advanced undergraduates and graduate students with a basic knowledge of point set topology as well as group theory and can be used in a two semester course.
Marcelo Aguilar and Carlos Prieto are Professors at the Instituto de Matemticas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and Samuel Gitler is a member of El Colegio Nacional and professor at the Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del IPN.

Klappentext

The authors present introductory material in algebraic topology from a novel point of view in using a homotopy-theoretic approach. This carefully written book can be read by any student who knows some topology, providing a useful method to quickly learn this novel homotopy-theoretic point of view of algebraic topology.

Inhalt

• Introduction Basic Concepts and Notation Function Spaces Connectedness and Algebraic Invariants Homotopy Groups Homotopy Extentsion and Lifting Properties CW-Complexes Homology Homotopy Properties of CW-Complexes Cohomology Groups and Related Topics Vector Bundles K-Theory Adams Operations and Applications Relations Between Cohomology and Vector Bundles Cohomology Theories and Brown Representability Appendix A: Proof of the Dold-Thom Theorem Appendix B: Proof of the Bott Periodicity Theorem References Index Glossary *