This volume provides an introduction to the geometry of manifolds equipped with additional structures connected with the notion of symmetry. The content is divided into five chapters. Chapter I presents the elements of differential geometry which are used in subsequent chapters. Part of the chapter is devoted to general topology, part to the theory of smooth manifolds, and the remaining sections deal with manifolds with additional structures. Chapter II is devoted to the basic notions of the theory of spaces. One of the main topics here is the realization of affinely connected symmetric spaces as totally geodesic submanifolds of Lie groups. In Chapter IV, the most important classes of vector bundles are constructed. This is carried out in terms of differential forms. The geometry of the Euler class is of special interest here. Chapter V presents some applications of the geometrical concepts discussed. In particular, an introduction to modern methods of integration of nonlinear differential equations is given, as well as considerations involving the theory of hydrodynamic-type Poisson brackets with connections to interesting algebraic structures. For mathematicians and mathematical physicists wishing to obtain a good introduction to the geometry of manifolds. This volume can also be recommended as a supplementary graduate text.

One ofthe most important features of the development of physical and mathematical sciences in the beginning of the 20th century was the demolition of prevailing views of the three-dimensional Euclidean space as the only possible mathematical description of real physical space. Apriorization of geometrical notions and identification of physical 3 space with its mathematical modellR were characteristic for these views. The discovery of non-Euclidean geometries led mathematicians to the understanding that Euclidean geometry is nothing more than one of many logically admissible geometrical systems. Relativity theory amended our understanding of the problem of space by amalgamating space and time into an integral four-dimensional manifold. One of the most important problems, lying at the crossroad of natural sciences and philosophy is the problem of the structure of the world as a whole. There are a lot of possibilities for the topology offour dimensional space-time, and at first sight a lot of possibilities arise in cosmology. In principle, not only can the global topology of the universe be complicated, but also smaller scale topological structures can be very nontrivial. One can imagine two "usual" spaces connected with a "throat," making the topology of the union complicated."