How did Marx explain the role of economic classes in historical change?

In the philosophy of history, Karl Marx’s theory of historical materialism posits that history is driven by the material conditions of production rather than by ideas or spirit. Marx argued that society is structured by its "mode of production," which consists of the material forces of production (tools, technology, and raw materials) and the social relations of production (the division of labor and property ownership).123

Economic classes emerge from these relations of production. In systems like capitalism, the ruling class—the bourgeoisie—owns the means of production, while the proletariat (the working class) must sell their labor. Marx viewed history as a series of class struggles and revolutionary upheavals. As the forces of production evolve, they eventually conflict with existing social relations, creating contradictions that force the system to change. When a class becomes aware of these contradictions, it may overthrow the existing order, leading to a new mode of production. Thus, class conflict serves as the "motor of history," propelling society through successive stages toward an eventual communist future.123