I wouldn't necessarily say that Calvinism laid the foundation for Capitalism, but I would say that the Reformation had a major part.
Up until that point Europe had been held in the strangle-hold by the Roman Catholic church. They controlled religion, politics, and economics for centuries. The Reformation broke that hold and allowed for experimentation in all of those areas.
Capitalism is based on the idea of a "free market," which was then possible because of the new freedoms.
The major causes of the Reformation were the oppressions of Catholicism. They limited people's ability to choose in so many ways. People just got tired of being held down and held back.
John Calvin was one of the leaders of the Reformers. He lived in Geneva Switzerland. From his thoughts came the Presbyterian church.
