Karl Marx was a German philosopher, social and political theorist, and revolutionary socialist born in Trier in 1818. He developed the theory of historical materialism, which analyzes societal structure and change through the lens of class struggle under capitalism. Marx predicted that capitalism would ultimately be replaced by communism. Marx co-authored The Communist Manifesto with Friedrich Engels in 1848, a foundational text that outlined the principles of communist ideology. His most significant work was Das Kapital, a comprehensive critique of classical political economy that was published in multiple volumes between 1867 and 1894. In this magnum opus, he examined the mechanisms of capitalist production and accumulation. Marx died in London in 1883. His ideas and their subsequent development, collectively known as Marxism, have exerted enormous influence on intellectual, political, and social history. His theories inspired revolutionary movements across many countries and continue to shape academic and political discourse.