Karl Marx (5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883) was a 19th century German philosopher, economist, historian, sociologist, political theorist, journalist and socialist revolutionary who, alongside his friend and long-time collaborator Engels, discovered the laws of development of human societies based on the dialectical materialist method.
Marx is one of the most important thinkers of the communist movement, having written several books on capitalism and its intrinsic exploitation, he highlighted the contradictions in the capitalist mode of production, and helped develop socialist economic models. His essays such as "Capital" and "Manifesto of the Communist Party" are works that had international influence after their publication.