The first chapter of 'Database System Concepts' provides an introduction to database management systems (DBMS), highlighting their necessity for managing large amounts of interrelated data across various applications like banking and education. It covers the drawbacks of traditional file systems, such as data redundancy and inconsistency, and outlines the fundamentals of database architecture, design, and the various levels of data abstraction. The chapter also discusses key components like storage management, query processing, and transaction management necessary for maintaining data integrity and efficiency.