A First Course in Algebraic Topology

This volume is an introductory text where the subject matter has been presented lucidly so as to help self study by the beginners. New definitions are followed by suitable illustrations and the proofs of the theorems are easily accessible to the readers. Sufficient number of examples have been incorporated to facilitate clear understanding of the concepts. The book starts with the basic notions of category, functors and homotopy of continuous mappings including relative homotopy. Fundamental groups of circles and torus have been treated along with the fundamental group of covering spaces. Simplexes and complexes are presented in detail and two homology theories-simplicial homology and singular homology have been considered along with calculations of some homology groups. The book will be most suitable to senior graduate and postgraduate students of various universities and institutes.