Accounting History

Historical Development of Accounting

• Accounting's history dates back thousands of years to Mesopotamia, developing alongside writing, counting, and money.
• Early civilizations, such as ancient Egyptians and Babylonians, created auditing systems, while the Romans collated detailed financial information.
• Around 300 BC, accountants were employed in Iran, using tokens and bookkeeping scripts.
• The Phoenicians invented an alphabetic system for bookkeeping around the first millennium, with the ancient Egyptians possibly assigning someone the role of comptroller.

Luca Pacioli and the Development of Modern Accounting

• Luca Pacioli, an Italian, is considered the father of modern accounting, publishing the first textbook in accounting in 1494.
• Pacioli's book, "Summa de Arithmetica, Geometria, Proportioni et Proportionalita", described the system of double-entry bookkeeping used by Venetian merchants.
• Although Pacioli did not invent accounting or the double-entry principle, he was the first to describe the system of debits and credits in journals and ledgers.
• Amatino Manucci, a bookkeeper, is believed to have invented the double-entry principle in the 12th century.

Accounting as a Profession

• The modern profession of accounting has its roots in Scotland in the mid-1800s, with the Institute of Accountants in Glasgow petitioning Queen Victoria for a Royal Charter.
• The petition led to the establishment of the first professional accounting body, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS).
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW) was established later, allowing accountants to distinguish themselves from solicitors.
• In 1854, the institute adopted 'chartered accountant' for its members, a term that still carries legal weight globally today.
• The petition highlighted the varied skills required to be a professional accountant, including mathematical skills, knowledge of general legal principles, and the ability to give evidence on financial matters.