Let M be a closed n-dimensional manifold with a flow ϕ that has a global cross section Sigma ≅ Dn-1, and let h be the (piecewise continuous) first return map for Sigma. Our primary examples of such flows are minimal ones. We study how the return map captures topological properties of the flow and of the manifold. For a given map h if there exists an M, ϕ such that h is a first return map over some cross section then we call M, ϕ the suspension of h.; As an application, we give several (piecewise continuous) maps of D2 and a (piecewise continuous) map on D 3 which have suspensions. The suspension manifold of the map h3 is homotopic to S3. Hence, if there exists a suspendable minimal map of D 2 which is cell conjugate to h3 then it induces a minimal flow on this homotopy---S 3. We also discuss ways to test if the suspension manifold is the suspension of a map on a closed manifold, as in the case of an irrational flow on T2 , and when it is not, as in the case of any flow on S3.
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