The present paper gives an account and quantifies the change in topology
induced by small and type II geometric transitions, by introducing the notion
of the \emph{homological type} of a geometric transition. The obtained results
agree with, and go further than, most results and estimates, given to date by
several authors, both in mathematical and physical literature.Comment: 36 pages. Minor changes: A reference and a related comment in Remark
3.2 were added. This is the final version accepted for publication in the
journal Geometriae Dedicat
