A History of Algebraic and Differential Topology, 1900-1960 (Hardcover)

~ Jean Dieudonne (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews:

"This book is a well-informed and detailed analysis of the problems and development of algebraic topology, from Poincaré and Brouwer to Serre, Adams, and Thom. The author has examined each significant paper along this route and describes the steps and strategy of its proofs and its relation to other work. Previously, the history of the many technical developments of 20th-century mathematics had seemed to present insuperable obstacles to scholarship. This book demonstrates in the case of topology how these obstacles can be overcome, with enlightening results.... Within its chosen boundaries the coverage of this book is superb. Read it!" (MathSciNet)

"[The author] traces the development of algebraic and differential topology from the innovative work by Poincaré at the turn of the century to the period around 1960. [He] has given a superb account of the growth of these fields.… The details are interwoven with the narrative in a very pleasant fashion.… [The author] has previous written histories of functional analysis and of algebraic geometry, but neither book was on such a grand scale as this one. He has made it possible to trace the important steps in the growth of algebraic and differential topology, and to admire the hard work and major advances made by the founders." (Zentralblatt MATH)

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description

A classic available again, this book traces the history of algebraic topology beginning with its creation by Henry Poincare in 1900, and describing in detail the important ideas introduced in the theory before 1960. In its first thirty years the field seemed limited to applications in algebraic geometry, but this changed dramatically in the 1930s with the creation of differential topology by Georges De Rham and Elie Cartan and of homotopy theory by Witold Hurewicz and Heinz Hopf. The influence of topology began to spread to more and more branches as it gradually took on a central place in mathematics. Written by a world-renowned mathematician, this book will make exciting reading for anyone working with topology.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 676 pages
• Publisher: Birkhäuser Boston; 1 edition (April 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081763388X
• ISBN-13: 978-0817633882
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #989,745 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than a mere "history"., March 2, 2000

By	O., S. Mr "eltonjohn" (Kawasaki, Kanagawa Japan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book painstakingly describes and explains algebraic topology in the chronological order of its development. I quite agree with Glen Bredon's remark in his "Geometry and Topology" that goes like "this is more than a history and should be in the bookshelf of every student of topology" (not word-for-word, as the citation is done offhand).