Accosiative rings and algebras are very interesting algebraic structures. In a strict sense, the theory of algebras (in particular, noncommutative algebras) originated fromasingleexample, namelythequaternions, createdbySirWilliamR.Hamilton in1843. Thiswasthe?rstexampleofanoncommutative"numbersystem". During thenextfortyyearsmathematiciansintroducedotherexamplesofnoncommutative algebras, began to bring some order into them and to single out certain types of algebras for special attention. Thus, low-dimensional algebras, division algebras, and commutative algebras, were classi?ed and characterized. The ?rst complete results in the structure theory of associative algebras over the real and complex ?elds were obtained by T.Molien, E.Cartan and G.Frobenius. Modern ring theory began when J.H.Wedderburn proved his celebrated cl- si?cation theorem for ?nite dimensional semisimple algebras over arbitrary ?elds. Twenty years later, E.Artin proved a structure theorem for rings satisfying both the ascending and descending chain condition which generalized Wedderburn structure theorem. The Wedderburn-Artin theorem has since become a corn- stone of noncommutative ring theory. The purpose of this book is to introduce the subject of the structure theory of associative rings. This book is addressed to a reader who wishes to learn this topic from the beginning to research level. We have tried to write a self-contained book which is intended to be a modern textbook on the structure theory of associative rings and related structures and will be accessible for independent study.
From the reviews of the first edition:
"This is the first of two volumes which aim to take the theory of associative rings and their modules from fundamental definitions to the research frontier. The book is written at a level intended to be accessible to students who have taken standard basic undergraduate courses in linear algebra and abstract algebra. ... has been written with considerable attention to accuracy, and has been proofread with care. ... A very welcome feature is the substantial set of bibliographic and historical notes at the end of each chapter." (Kenneth A. Brown, Mathematical Reviews, 2006a)
"This book follows in the footsteps of the valuable work done during the seventies of systematizing the investigation of properties and structure of rings by using their categories of modules. ... A remarkable novelty in the present monograph is the study of semiperfect rings by means of quivers. ... Another good idea is the inclusion of the study of commutative as well as non-commutative discrete valuation rings. Each chapter ends with some illustrative historical notes." (José Gómez Torrecillas, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1086 (12), 2006)
