Genoa 1340, Double Entry, and ‘Gold Coasting’

Abstract

The objective of this study is to contribute to the existing literature on the history of accounting by expanding the knowledge of one of the most famous government account books from the medieval period kept using the double entry method. In doing so, particular attention is paid to the influence of political and religious factors on the organisation of accounting and the peculiarities of the accounting for merchandise trading. The result of a detailed study of the Cartullarium Massariorum ledger of the Commune of Genoa for 1340, carried out using logical-analytical modelling, is presented. That modelling method was developed for the study of medieval accounting systems. Peculiarities in the organisation of the accounting and taxation of the Commune are presented along with analyses the budget revenues and expenditures. Particular attention is paid to the accounting for goods and the apparently regular practice by the Commune of Genoa of the sale of goods at a loss.