Karl Marx was born on 5 May 1818 in Trier, part of the Kingdom of Prussia. He was the son of Heinrich Marx, a lawyer, and Henriette Pressburg. His family, originally Jewish, converted to Christianity. Marx studied at the universities of Bonn and Berlin, earning a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Jena in 1841. Influenced by Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, he became associated with the Young Hegelians, critiquing and developing Hegel's ideas in works such as The German Ideology and the Grundrisse. In Paris, he wrote the Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 and met Friedrich Engels, who became his collaborator. In 1845, Marx moved to Brussels, where he joined the Communist League and co-authored The Communist Manifesto in 1848, advocating for revolutionary change. Expelled from Belgium and Germany, he settled in London in 1849, where he continued his work, including The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte and Das Kapital, which he published in three volumes between 1867 and 1894.Marx's theories posited that human societies evolve through class conflict, particularly between the bourgeoisie, who control production, and the proletariat, who sell their labor. He argued that capitalism's internal contradictions would lead to its downfall and the rise of socialism. Marx believed that the working class would develop class consciousness, seize political power, and establish a classless, communist society. He actively promoted organized revolutionary action to achieve socio-economic emancipation.Marx was born into a family with a strong intellectual background. His father, Heinrich, was a classical liberal who engaged in political reform efforts. Marx's early education included private tutoring and attendance at Trier High School, where he was exposed to liberal ideas. He later attended the University of Bonn, where he initially studied law before transferring to the University of Berlin to focus on philosophy. His engagement to Jenny von Westphalen, a member of the petty nobility, was socially controversial due to their differing backgrounds. They married in 1843.In 1843, Marx became co-editor of the Deutsch-Französische Jahrbücher in Paris, where he articulated his views on communism. After the journal's closure, he wrote for Vorwärts!, refining his socialist ideas. His friendship with Engels deepened during this period, leading to collaborative works that critiqued contemporary philosophy and politics. In 1845, Marx moved to Brussels, where he continued to develop his theories and wrote The Poverty of Philosophy as a critique of Proudhon's ideas.Marx's involvement with the Communist League culminated in the publication of The Communist Manifesto in 1848, which outlined the principles of communism and called for the proletariat to rise against the bourgeoisie. The same year, Europe experienced widespread revolutions, and Marx actively supported revolutionary movements. However, he faced political repression, leading to his expulsion from several countries.After settling in London, Marx faced financial difficulties but continued to write extensively. He contributed to the New-York Daily Tribune, where he reported on European affairs and the American Civil War. His major work, Das Kapital, was published in 1867, analyzing capitalism's economic structures and dynamics. Marx's critique of political economy laid the groundwork for his later theories on class struggle and historical materialism.In 1864, Marx became involved in the International Workingmen's Association, where he engaged in ideological battles against anarchists. His writings during this period included critiques of various socialist movements and reflections on the Paris Commune of 1871. Despite his declining health in later years, Marx continued to write and critique contemporary politics until his death on 14 March 1883 in London. He was buried in Highgate Cemetery, and his ideas have since influenced numerous political movements and theories worldwide.