The origins of capitalism are complex and cannot be attributed solely to Europe; with that being said, however, there is considerable evidence to suggest that capitalism, as we understand it today, has its roots in European history. Modern capitalism is closely associated with Western culture and its development, particularly in terms of ‘market dependence,’ which refers to the economic relationship between capital and wage labour.

Ellen Meiksins Wood traces the origins of capitalism to transformations in the English countryside. She argues that these changes set the stage for the development of a capitalist economy. The rise of agrarian capitalism in England, characterised by the commodification of land and the emergence of wage labour, played a crucial role in shaping modern capitalism (Wood, 1998). This process was not merely an economic shift but also involved significant social and political changes, including the enclosure movement, which displaced many peasants and forced them into wage labour. This transition from a feudal economy to a market-driven one laid the foundation for capitalism as it spread across Europe and eventually the world.

Silvia Federici offers a different perspective, linking the origins of capitalism to the oppression of women, particularly their reproductive rights. Federici argues that capitalism emerged alongside the subjugation of women, beginning in the 16th century in Western Europe. As states became more interested in population growth, women’s roles shifted from workers to reproducers. Federici examines how domestic labour, performed by women, was devalued under capitalism. She notes that if men performed the same labour, it would be considered productive work and compensated accordingly (Federici, 2004). Federici also discusses the “Patriarchy of Wage,” highlighting how lower-class women were excluded from wages as a means of control. Although women contributed significantly to the economy through manual labour, their wages were often taken by their husbands, reinforcing patriarchal structures (Federici, 2004).

Federici’s work contributes to our understanding of the origins of capitalism by revealing how patriarchal dominance was integral to its development. She connects the historical oppression of women to modern-day realities, showing how stereotypes of femininity and masculinity that originated in the 17th century continue to shape gender roles today. These stereotypes, which portrayed women as overly emotional, hypersexual, and dependent on men, led to an infantilised ideal of women that persists in contemporary society. Traits such as compliance, submission, nurturing, and following male authority are not only encouraged but an expected behaviour in women (Federici, 2004).

While the origins of capitalism were influenced by a variety factors, including the exploitation of women and people of colour, the evidence suggests that Europe played a central role in its development. The specific conditions in Europe, particularly in England, facilitated the emergence of a capitalist economy that eventually spread to other parts of the world. Although capitalism has evolved and been shaped by different cultures and regions, its roots and origins remain deeply entwined with European history.