Which historical eras should we refer to as being "Capitalist"?

There is certainly a history to the school of "self-interest" thought. Some people find it useful. Subscribing to the school of thought, or even elaborating it, has helped many successful persons. It seems to me that we may describe Europe as being characterized by a lot of individualism as well as a thirst to establish individualism as a point in philosophy.
     European society became established, which, of course, took place over a good many years. As Europe established its particular way of life, the idea of individual self-interest provided a philosophical foundation that many persons found helpful. We can see that justifications of self-interest therefore predate capitalism, and then continue into the period of European history we may call "capitalist," and by that I mean from the middle to late Eighteenth century. Capitalism is now deeply threatened, in my opinion. One of the reasons it is threatened is this dependence on the philosophy of self-interest.
     It is always something superimposed on the facts, rather than its being a reflection of them. Capitalism is not individualism, nor must it be equated with self-interest. The point I want to underscore is that a hyper-individualized society is not the same as - or consistent with - being a capitalistic society. We may use a simple mantra: "capitalism is social." The present extreme level of individualism, actually the abandonment of humans by their own society, did not exist in any other stage of capitalism and did not exist just prior to capitalism. This is, however, the present stage. It is our present condition.
     Therefore, the current conditions we experience do not need to be called "capitalist." The word "capitalist" should refer to something else.