This book introduces key topics on Geometric Invariant Theory, a technique to obtaining quotients in algebraic geometry with a good set of properties, through various examples. It starts from the classical Hilbert classification of binary forms, advancing to the construction of the moduli space of semistable holomorphic vector bundles, and to Hitchin’s theory on Higgs bundles. The relationship between the notion of stability between algebraic, differential and symplectic geometry settings is also covered.