Marx in his epigrammatic brilliance circumnavigating Capital,wrote in his preparatory Grundrisse in 1856-1858,that capitalism could be dated at the discovery of America i.e.1492. He wrote that this was what created capitalism,namely,the world market. However, in 1916, Lenin wrote in Imperialism,the Highest Stage of Capitalism that imperialism was characterised primarily by the export of capital and monopolies in industry and finance, particularly Britain where he enumerated 2 000 000 rentiers and "coupon-clippers". However has not every businessman sought to eliminate competition and store up wealth?
But,it is in Early Venice as our own Irish socialist,Professor Tom Hadden,writes in Company Law and the Origin of Capitalism that agency, seafaring, trade and profit-sharing emerged earlier than Columbus.. Perhaps,it is in agency that rests the origin of capitalism and,then again,I would date capitalism as a mighty,if already extant,form of manufacture,finance,trade,state and empire as late as The Limited Liability Act 1867. While any definite date or decisive period would mislead,the question of origins entails that consolidation occurred then,no earlier. But it might well be rejoindered that origins,decisive origins, are in agency, family, partnership and army and empire and war long feature before the state as the greatest burden on the human condition,not private property or a thoroughly regulated system of share ownership.
8.6.2021
As for Harry Truman's and JFK'S theories of the "military-industrial complex" at work in America in the 1950's and 1960's soaking up dead capital,the reply is given by Willy Cumming,a devoted socialist in the modern vein, namely,"People have always spent money on weapons." or,if you don't like that, take it from Clement Attlee,"The first duty of every country is to defend itself."
The question of rich and poor?
There have always been rich and poor...read the Bible...