History of accounting from antiquity to the present day

Accounting, as we see it in our time, has become the main instrument for regulating economic activity within both one organization and large entities. It is the constant management of all operations and the recording of all information that relates to the organization. Accounting data is used to assess the effect of the enterprise and its future prospects. Banks and other numerous credit institutions use accounting data to decide on the issue of a loan or a loan. In addition, the controlling authorities also check this data. From all this it is clear that the role of accounting is enormous. But to create such a system had to spend a lot of time. Therefore, let's talk about the same history of accounting.

Its roots go far into the depths of centuries. The first books, resembling accounting, date back to the 3500th century BC. The records were kept on clay boards, and his scribes conducted in Babylonia.

With the advent of paper and the transition to a more civilized relationship, accounting has become simpler. However, the modern system was still far away. In different estates the accounting was not the same. Many owners from time to time checked the documentation and accounting of business management. This became the first makings of the appearance of auditors. But all was reduced only to the supervision of the safety of property and regular inspection. Nobody tried to measure the profit received and to find out how efficient the conducted economic activity is.

The history of accounting development received a new impetus when a double entry was introduced . This happened in 1340. This method was used by the treasurers of Genoa. The history of accounting shows that this method was described by Luka Pacioli. It is he who is considered the progenitor of accounting. The stage of introducing a double entry is usually called the beginning of a modern system.
Everything was elementary. Economic resources were equal to the amount of debts and liabilities and own funds.

The basis for such accounting was the regularity in which changes in one part of the accounting lead to changes in the arc part. So there is a balance. And the changes can be in one part. But with the opposite meaning and in the same amount. Accounting has received one more function - determining the effectiveness of economic activity of any entity.

The history of accounting is divided into two periods. The first is characterized by a lack of literature on the proper conduct of economic activities. The second period began with the publication of the book Pacioli on the double counting system. It was she who became the first textbook on accounting.

Since the 17th century, many joint-stock companies have begun to finance long-term expeditions. This led to the fact that the reporting period began to end at the end of the year. In 1673, France began to demand a balance from each enterprise, which should be compiled once every two years.

Gradually the banking sphere developed . The balance of the enterprise made it possible to assess its capabilities and solve the issue of lending. Production volumes grew, as did the enterprises themselves. The role of fixed assets in the balance sheet has become significant. There was the concept of depreciation.

There was a need to calculate the cost price. The history of accounting came to an end in 1959, when they established a commission that developed the basic principles of the accounting system. After this, major changes did not occur.

The history of the development of accounting in Russia experienced several historical moments. It can be divided conditionally into three stages: the period of the Russian Empire, the Soviet period and the modern one.

But the accounting system continues to evolve today. Each country has its own characteristics, but recently there has been a tendency to develop world standards.