  In the first edition of Classification Theory, the second author
characterized the stable theories in terms of saturation of ultrapowers. Prior
to this theorem, stability had already been defined in terms of counting types,
and the unstable formula theorem was known. A contribution of the ultrapower
characterization was that it involved sorting out the global theory, and
introducing nonforking, seminal for the development of stability theory. Prior
to the present paper, there had been no such characterization of an unstable
class. In the present paper, we first establish the existence of so-called
optimal ultrafilters on Boolean algebras, which are to simple theories as
Keisler's good ultrafilters are to all theories. Then, assuming a supercompact
cardinal, we characterize the simple theories in terms of saturation of
ultrapowers. To do so, we lay the groundwork for analyzing the global structure
of simple theories, in ZFC, via complexity of certain amalgamation patterns.
This brings into focus a fundamental complexity in simple unstable theories
having no real analogue in stability.
