History of Accounting

  • First Written Records
    2500 BCE

    First Written Records

    Records have been found in ancient civilizations in Egypt, Rome, Greece, and Arabia.
  • Phoenician Alphabet
    1000 BCE

    Phoenician Alphabet

    The Phoenicians created an alphabet using accounting, so they were not cheated through the trades they took part in with the ancient Egyptians.
  • Abacus Invented
    500 BCE

    Abacus Invented

    Egyptians invented the first bead and wire abacus.
  • Auditing created
    423 BCE

    Auditing created

    The auditing profession was created. Was named auditing because reports were given orally.
  • Period: 1200 to 1493

    Accounting Records Required

    The first requirement for accounting records for the Italian republics.
  • Luca Pacioli Published his Paper
    1494

    Luca Pacioli Published his Paper

    Pacioli the father of accounting wrote his paper (everything about Arithmetic, Geometry, and Proportion.) It is a study on Italian merchants that showed several merchants kept books of their debits and credits. This was the earliest form of the double entry accounting system.
  • Period: 1500 to

    Expansion on Double Entry Accounting

    Innovations added to the double entry system. In the 17th century the East India Company created invested capital and dividend distribution. This created a change in financial and managerial accounting.
  • Period: to

    Industrial revolution

    Accounting took off as companies tried to get financing and stay efficient. Many modern double entry methods developed during this time. The CPA was invented in 1896.
  • Period: to

    Importance of Accounting grew

    In the 20's accounting was important to reducing fraud and scandals in business at that time period. The GAAP was created by the AICPA and FASB in 1939 to set national accounting standards.
  • Period: to

    Security Exchange Commission Continues National Standards (1940-present)

    Technology has allowed for a central location for all accounting standards, called codification this shows all current standards and practices, and also shows standards that are currently up for debate. Peachtree and Quickbooks have helped automate the profession. Accountants are beginning to review more transactions rather than recording them themselves.