From a topological theory of semigroups to a geometric one (Q1343222)

The paper is based on a talk of the author presented at the Conference in Honor of Štefan Schwarz on the occasion of his 80th birthday (Kočovce, May 1994). It concerns the development of the theory of semigroups, beginning with A. H. Clifford, Š. Schwarz, and A. D. Wallace and ending with the modern theory of Lie semigroups [cf. \textit{K. H. Hofmann, J. D. Lawson} and \textit{E. B. Vinberg} (Eds.), Semigroups in Algebra, Geometry and Analysis (de Gruyter Verlag, Berlin) (1995)]. Since the paper contains so many interesting details and facts, only the titles of its sections are given: Coherence of semigroup theory -- On the ghetto existence of semigroup theory -- Topological semigroup theory -- geometric semigroup theory. This paper is highly recommended to everybody interested in semigroups.