A periodization of capitalism seeks to distinguish stages of development that help understanding of features of capitalism through time. The best-known periodizations that have been proposed distinguish these stages as: 1. * Early / monopoly / state monopoly capitalism (Sweezy) 2. * Free trade / monopoly / finance capitalism (Hilferding) 3. * Early capitalism (primitive accumulation) / colonialism / imperialism (Hobson, Lenin, Bukharin) 4. * Extensive stage / intensive stage / late capitalism (Aglietta)