Karl Marx (1818 - 1883) was a German philosopher, economist, historian and revolutionary socialist. His analysis of capitalism and class conflict, set out in works such as The Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital, gave rise to the body of thought known as Marxism. [1]
Early life and education
Karl Marx was born on 5 May 1818 in Trier, in the Kingdom of Prussia. He studied law and then philosophy at the universities of Bonn, Berlin and Jena, where he was influenced by the ideas of Hegel. [1]
Journalism and exile
Marx worked as a radical journalist, but his politics led to his expulsion from several countries. He lived in Paris and Brussels before settling permanently in London in 1849, where he spent the rest of his life, often in poverty, researching and writing. [1][2]
Collaboration with Engels
Marx formed a lifelong partnership with Friedrich Engels. Together they wrote The Communist Manifesto (1848), which called for the working class to overthrow capitalism. Engels also supported Marx financially and helped complete his work. [2]
Major works and influence
Marx's central work, Das Kapital, analysed the workings and contradictions of capitalist production; the first volume appeared in 1867, with later volumes published by Engels after Marx's death in 1883. His ideas became a foundation for socialist and communist movements and profoundly influenced politics, economics and the social sciences in the twentieth century. [1][3]
