After a brief review of early accounting scholars’ theories, we summarize the history of Italian accounting regulation highlighting the most important historical, political, and economical determinants. Given that Italy as a unitary State only came into existence in the second half of 19th century, we can only summarize the most important steps going back to the foundation of accounting, associated around the world with Luca Pacioli’s name, and through the development of Italian accounting recording and theories. These steps have an important influence on the development of the subsequent national accounting regulation.