Learning objectives

The aim of the course is to provide a critical and in-depth understanding of the evolution of the enterprise and of accounting as a discipline, highlighting how the increasing complexity of the economy has called for ever more sophisticated accounting tools and a transformation of the accountant’s role. Starting from the analysis of business forms developed throughout history, the course will examine how economic and social change has progressively reshaped organisational models and modes of business management. This will allow students to understand how, through key historical turning points and both technical and theoretical innovations, enterprises have adopted accounting systems capable of managing complexity. The course will focus on the major stages that marked the transition from traditional accounting—rooted in ancient practices—to the advanced methodologies of today’s global economy. Overall, the course will foster an interpretative capacity aimed at understanding how economic transformations have redefined the role of the accountant, from a mere recorder of transactions to a strategic advisor within the enterprise.

Prerequisites and basic notions

There are no requirements

Program

The course will present a chronological journey from the origins of ancient urban economies to the advent of the modern industrial era, integrating business history and accounting history. It will examine the earliest accounting techniques—clay tablets and seals—in the pre-classical period, then move to Greco-Roman Italy to observe the rudiments of balance-sheet reporting. In the Carolingian era it will show how agrarian registers and land-management practices consolidate an accounting tradition that endures through the Industrial Revolution. During the Renaissance and the expansion of trade the need for a more efficient system will give rise to double-entry bookkeeping. In parallel, it will analyze the transformation of production—from early medieval manufacturing through the putting-out system and proto-factories to large centralized mills. The emergence of Big Business, zaibatsu and Japanese keiretsu will drive further growth in size and complexity, demanding ever more sophisticated accounting tools. Finally, it will explore the development of cost accounting, early auditing and review practices, and the definition of the modern “accountant” profession, essential for managing increasingly complex enterprises.

The main topics covered will be:
- Ancient and medieval accounting: tablets, seals, agrarian records, and balance-sheet reports
- Medieval and Renaissance manufacturing
- The Renaissance and the emergence of double-entry bookkeeping
- Proto-industry and the rise of factories
- The Industrial Revolution: accounting methods and cost accounting
- Accounting control and auditing: formal audits, scandals, and bankruptcies
- The professionalization of the accountant
- Big Business and scientific management (Taylorism, Fordism)
- Post-war organizational models: keiretsu, and industrial districts

Bibliography

Didactic methods

Lectures and possible in-depth seminars. Teaching materials used in lectures will be available on the teaching webpage.

Learning assessment procedures

The exam consists of an individual written test covering the entire syllabus, designed to assess students’ understanding of the course material. The test is divided into three questions and lasts 90 minutes.

Evaluation criteria

The written exam is graded on a 30-point scale. The final mark is the average of the scores obtained in the three questions, provided each question is individually passed. Each answer is evaluated not only for accuracy but also for the student’s ability to present knowledge in a coherent, discursive manner and to demonstrate critical reasoning about the material studied.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The test is structured to assess the level of mastery of the main contents of the syllabus.

Exam language

Italiano