This document provides an overview of database systems including: - A brief history of databases from hierarchical and network models to relational and object-oriented databases. - Key components of database management systems including data definition languages, data manipulation languages, and structured query language. - The advantages of DBMS in controlling redundancy, maintaining consistency and integrity, and enabling data sharing. - Some limitations of complex, large DBMS software, hardware costs, and performance issues. - An assignment to review the chapter and submit a group list.