The Theory of Historical Materialism

The Theory of Historical Materialism, developed by Karl Marx, suggests that a society’s economic system and its means of producing goods (like factories and land) fundamentally shape its social structures, laws, and culture. History progresses through conflicts between different social classes, primarily between those who control production (bourgeoisie) and those who sell their labor (proletariat). These struggles drive societal change, leading to new economic systems. Essentially, material conditions and economic interests are the primary forces determining societal development, rather than ideas or morality alone.