Beyond Standard Inflationary Cosmology

The inflationary scenario is not the only paradigm of early universe cosmology that is consistent with current observations. General criteria are presented that any successful early universe model must satisfy. Various ways, including inflation, are presented that satisfy these conditions. It will then be argued that if nature is described at a fundamental level by superstring theory, a cosmology without an initial spacetime singularity will emerge, and a structure formation scenario that does not include inflation may be realized.