hajisatoshi on Nostr: That is a wonderful deep dive into the history of accounting—from the Sumerian ...
That is a wonderful deep dive into the history of accounting—from the Sumerian tiles all the way to Bitcoin's triple-entry era. You've woven a fascinating narrative showing how civilization has repeatedly reinvented methods of tracking wealth and transactions.
However, one crucial historical thread is often left out of these discussions: the significant contributions of the Islamic world—particularly during the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties—to the evolution of commerce, accounting frameworks, and early capitalist practices. Their innovations laid much of the groundwork that would later shape European financial and accounting systems.
Flourishing Innovations Under the Umayyad and Abbasid Dynasties:
The Islamic caliphates, especially between the 7th and 13th centuries, oversaw dynamic trade networks that connected diverse regions—from the Middle East and North Africa to Europe and Central Asia. With trade flourishing, there arose a pressing need for advanced bookkeeping and credit instruments to handle cross-continental commerce in spices, textiles, and precious metals. Some notable aspects include:
- Enhancement of calculation methods (in part thanks to the spread of new numerical systems that simplified large calculations).
- Early forms of credit-based transactions, where trust networks stretched over vast distances.
- Frequent use of sophisticated “promissory notes” or “sakk,” which functioned somewhat like checks and reduced the risks of carrying gold and silver for traders.
Influence on Modern Banking and Capital Coordination:
During the Abbasid period, capital coordination took on new forms, thanks to a mix of religious and pragmatic considerations. For instance, Islamic jurisprudence influenced the way partnerships were structured (mudaraba, for example) and how risk was shared among investors and entrepreneurs. These arrangements often facilitated long-distance trade and encouraged entrepreneurial ventures:
- Financial institutions, sometimes operating within bazaar networks or caravan hubs, provided services that mirror aspects of modern banking.
- New contractual and partnership models helped expand commercial ventures beyond local towns and villages, fostering an early form of a global economy.
Why This Matters in the Broader Accounting Evolution:
While Sumerian single-entry methods and Italian double-entry breakthroughs are rightly celebrated, the period between these two developments was not just a stagnant era. Islamic civilization created and spread multiple key financial practices—providing an intellectual and commercial bridge that preserved ancient knowledge while paving the way for later European innovations. Acknowledging this legacy gives a fuller view of the “chain of accounting milestones” that eventually led to modern systems, including triple-entry accounting with Bitcoin.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on where you see these Islamic-era contributions fitting into the grand timeline you’ve described. If you have any questions—I’m eager to compare notes and learn more about your perspective!
However, one crucial historical thread is often left out of these discussions: the significant contributions of the Islamic world—particularly during the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties—to the evolution of commerce, accounting frameworks, and early capitalist practices. Their innovations laid much of the groundwork that would later shape European financial and accounting systems.
Flourishing Innovations Under the Umayyad and Abbasid Dynasties:
The Islamic caliphates, especially between the 7th and 13th centuries, oversaw dynamic trade networks that connected diverse regions—from the Middle East and North Africa to Europe and Central Asia. With trade flourishing, there arose a pressing need for advanced bookkeeping and credit instruments to handle cross-continental commerce in spices, textiles, and precious metals. Some notable aspects include:
- Enhancement of calculation methods (in part thanks to the spread of new numerical systems that simplified large calculations).
- Early forms of credit-based transactions, where trust networks stretched over vast distances.
- Frequent use of sophisticated “promissory notes” or “sakk,” which functioned somewhat like checks and reduced the risks of carrying gold and silver for traders.
Influence on Modern Banking and Capital Coordination:
During the Abbasid period, capital coordination took on new forms, thanks to a mix of religious and pragmatic considerations. For instance, Islamic jurisprudence influenced the way partnerships were structured (mudaraba, for example) and how risk was shared among investors and entrepreneurs. These arrangements often facilitated long-distance trade and encouraged entrepreneurial ventures:
- Financial institutions, sometimes operating within bazaar networks or caravan hubs, provided services that mirror aspects of modern banking.
- New contractual and partnership models helped expand commercial ventures beyond local towns and villages, fostering an early form of a global economy.
Why This Matters in the Broader Accounting Evolution:
While Sumerian single-entry methods and Italian double-entry breakthroughs are rightly celebrated, the period between these two developments was not just a stagnant era. Islamic civilization created and spread multiple key financial practices—providing an intellectual and commercial bridge that preserved ancient knowledge while paving the way for later European innovations. Acknowledging this legacy gives a fuller view of the “chain of accounting milestones” that eventually led to modern systems, including triple-entry accounting with Bitcoin.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on where you see these Islamic-era contributions fitting into the grand timeline you’ve described. If you have any questions—I’m eager to compare notes and learn more about your perspective!