This document provides an introduction to accounting. It discusses how accounting originated in ancient times but was formalized in the 15th century by Luca Pacioli who emphasized double-entry bookkeeping. The main functions of accounting are to record business transactions, classify them, summarize balances in a trial balance, and interpret the final financial statements of profit/loss and balance sheet. Accounting communicates financial information to various stakeholders and helps with decision making, loans, taxes, and more. There are different types of accounting for various purposes.