AGRICULTURE SOCSCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FO

part of socscience

1. KARL MARX

Slide 1: Who is Karl Marx?
•Born in 1818 in Germany
•Philosopher, economist, and revolutionary thinker
•Critic of capitalism, supporter of communism
•Known as the “Prophet of the Proletariat”
Explanation:
Karl Marx was not just a philosopher but also a revolutionary thinker who wanted to change the unfair system of his time. He believed that
workers (the proletariat) deserved more rights and equality, and this made him one of the most influential figures in history.
Slide 2: Early Life
•Came from a middle-class family
•Studied philosophy in Bonn and Berlin
•Influenced by Hegel’s ideas
•Worked as a journalist, expelled many times
Explanation:
Marx’s education and interest in philosophy shaped his ideas about society. His journalism work showed his courage to criticize governments, but
it also made him unpopular with authorities, leading to repeated expulsions.
Slide 3: Friendship with Friedrich Engels
•Met Engels in Paris, 1844 – Marx and Engels became close friends when they met in Paris. They shared the same beliefs about social change.
Their meeting marked the start of a strong partnership.
•Engels was a wealthy socialist – Unlike Marx, Engels had money from his family’s factory business. Despite his wealth, he supported
socialism. He wanted to use his resources to help workers.
•Co-authored The Communist Manifesto (1848) – Together, they wrote this influential pamphlet. It explained their ideas about class struggle
and revolution. It became the foundation of many socialist movements.
•Engels supported Marx financially – Marx’s family often lived in poverty. Engels regularly sent him money to help. This support allowed Marx
to continue writing.
Explanation:
Friedrich Engels was both a partner and a supporter. Without him, Marx might not have been able to write his books because his family lived in
poverty. Their collaboration produced The Communist Manifesto, one of the most famous political documents in history.

2. Slide 4: Life in London
•Lived most of his life in London – After many expulsions, Marx settled in London. He stayed there until his death. London became the center
of his work.
•Family suffered poverty and sickness – Despite his intellect, Marx lived in poverty. His wife and children often went hungry. They also suffered
from poor health.
•Worked in the British Museum Library – Marx spent long hours researching. He read about history, economics, and politics. This research
helped him develop his theories.
•Wrote Das Kapital (1867) – This was his most important book. It studied how capitalism worked and why it exploited workers. It took him almost
20 years to finish.
Explanation:
Marx’s years in London were very difficult, yet he remained dedicated to his studies. His major work Das Kapital explained how capitalism works,
how workers are exploited, and why he believed the system would eventually fail.
Slide 5: Marx’s Philosophy

•Dialectical Materialism: society changes through conflicts – Marx believed conflict drives change. Instead of just ideas, he said material
needs and struggles shape society. This was his twist on Hegel’s philosophy.
•Historical Materialism: history shaped by economics – Marx said history is not mainly about kings or wars. Instead, it is about how people
work and produce goods. The economy decides how society is organized.
•Class Struggle: conflict between rich and poor drives history – Marx argued that the rich (bourgeoisie) always exploit the poor (proletariat).
This conflict has existed throughout history. He believed it would end with workers uniting.
Explanation:
Marx believed that change in society comes from real struggles between different classes. For him, history was not just about kings and rulers
but about how people lived, worked, and fought for survival.
Slide 6: Key Ideas of Karl Marx

•Class Struggle – rich vs. poor – Society is divided between those who own wealth and those who work for them. This struggle creates tension
and change. Marx saw it as the main force of history.
•Surplus Value – workers produce more than wages – Workers create value by labor, but they get only a small wage. The extra value is taken
by capitalists as profit. This makes the system unfair.
•Capitalism’s Downfall – system will collapse – Marx believed capitalism creates its own problems. Crises, unemployment, and inequality
would make it unstable. Eventually, it would fall apart.
•Dictatorship of the Proletariat – workers rule – After overthrowing capitalists, workers would take power. They would build a fairer system.
This was a step toward communism.

3. •Communism – classless society with shared ownership – In communism, no class would dominate another. Everyone would share
resources equally. This was Marx’s vision of a perfect society.
Explanation:
These ideas show why Marx is called revolutionary. He argued that workers create the real value in society, but capitalists take the profits. He
believed this unfair system would eventually collapse, leading to a classless society.
Slide 7: Stages of Society (According to Marx)

•Communalism – shared resources – Early humans lived by sharing everything. There was no private property. Everyone worked together to
survive.
•Slavery – one class owns another – In this stage, masters controlled slaves. Slaves did hard labor without freedom. It created great inequality.
•Feudalism – lords and peasants – Kings and landlords owned the land. Peasants worked for them and gave part of their harvest. This system
lasted for centuries.
•Capitalism – wages and private property – People now worked for wages in factories. Capitalists owned businesses and land. Workers had
little power.
•Communism – equality, no private ownership – Marx believed this would be the final stage. Everyone would live equally without oppression.
Society would be fair and just.
Explanation:
Marx explained history as a series of stages. Each stage had inequality, but he believed humanity would finally reach communism, where
everyone shares equally and no one is oppressed.
Slide 8: Impact and Legacy
•Inspired revolutions worldwide – Marx’s ideas influenced movements in Russia, China, and Cuba. Many revolutions used his theories as
guidance. His work changed global politics.
•Shaped socialism and communism – Marx became the foundation of socialist thought. Political parties and governments built systems based
on his writings. His legacy is still debated today.
•His analysis of capitalism still relevant today – Even in modern times, his ideas about inequality remain important. Scholars still study Das
Kapital. Workers’ rights movements are influenced by his theories.
•Known as the “Prophet of the Proletariat” – Marx dedicated his life to the working class. He believed they could change the world. Because of
this, he is remembered as their prophet.
Explanation:
Even after his death, Marx’s works inspired revolutions in Russia, China, Cuba, and many other countries. Although not all his predictions came
true, his analysis of capitalism continues to influence political and economic debates today.