Karl Marx was a German philosopher, economist

 Karl Marx was a German philosopher, economist, and political theorist. His ideas shaped a huge part of modern politics and economics.

*Quick facts:*

- Born: May 5, 1818 in Trier, Prussia 

- Died: March 14, 1883 in London, England

- Worked mostly as a writer and journalist. Lived much of his life in exile in London

- Best friend and collaborator: Friedrich Engels

*What he’s known for:*

Marx studied capitalism and history. His big idea was that history is driven by class struggle.

Main concepts:

- Capitalism: He argued that workers sell their labor, but owners profit from the extra value they produce. He called this "surplus value"

- Class struggle: History, to him, is the story of conflict between those who own resources, the bourgeoisie, and those who work, the proletariat

- Alienation: Workers become separated from what they produce and from each other under capitalism

- Revolution: He believed the working class would eventually overthrow capitalism and create a classless, communist society

*Major works:*

- The Communist Manifesto, 1848, with Engels. Famous line: "Workers of the world, unite!"

- Das Kapital, 1867. A deep analysis of capitalism and economics

*Impact:*

Marx didn’t start any revolutions himself, but his ideas influenced socialist movements, labor unions, and governments around the world in the 20th century. Countries tried to build societies based on his ideas, though they looked very different from what he originally described.

He’s one of the most debated thinkers ever. Some see him as a critic who exposed inequality. Others disagree with his predictions and solutions.