Categorical methods of speaking and thinking are becoming more and more widespread in mathematics because they achieve a unifi cation of parts of different mathematical fields; frequently they bring simplifications and provide the impetus for new developments. The purpose of this book is to introduce the reader to the central part of category theory and to make the literature accessible to the reader who wishes to go farther. In preparing the English version, I have used the opportunity to revise and enlarge the text of the original German edition. Only the most elementary concepts from set...