I think that you have to investigate in the direction of [fibrations][1]. And then, maybe, [spectral sequences][2]. edit: Concernig your comment -- I am interested in that as well. Right now my investigation got me there -- check the book *"Modern Geometry - Methods and Applications: Part 3: Introduction to Homology Theory" by: B.A. Dubrovin, A.T. Fomenko, S.P. Novikov.* Chapter 20. It is quite difficult for me to read the book (Yeah, you got me, I'm a physicist.) so I cannot give you anything but the direction. [1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibration [2]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serre_spectral_sequence