Daniel, I wasn't talking about private property itself, but 'capital' in the economic sense, which is something someone owns that makes an income from its existence.

You are right that 'when did civilisations start to respect the ownership of private property is the better question' and that is the question I start with in the article I'm posting today. Capitalism requires private ownership of capital and that is a very recent change (1850s-70s in the UK).

You are again proving my point for me with the Columbus example: Columbus' ships were owned by the Spanish monarchy, specifically Queen Isabella. Likewise, before the 1800s in almost every nation state everything ultimately belonged to the king / emperor (and to lords / chiefs on a smaller level).

Neither is money capitalism, money can exist without it, although capitalism historically has relied upon it to exist. When it comes to the (ceremonial) trading of shells or of tribes trading cattle this was not capital and not capitalism. I'd encourage you to read 'David Graeber's 5000 Years Of Debt' to learn more about the history of money. But there was 195,000 years of human history without money (I'd argue the Sumerians invented it around 3000 BC).