The Founding Fathers of Communism

Much of 20th-century history is dominated by a clear clash of ideologies–that of market-oriented capitalism versus collective-based communism. By 1985, one-third of the world’s population lived under communist regime, which had its roots in an obscure political theory devised more than a century prior.

The industrialisation of Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries may have plunged the working classes into dark factories and mills in unsanitary towns and cities as society struggled to keep up with the pace of change, but rapid economic growth did smile upon a fortunate few. Among the beneficiaries of capitalism were the families of two men, whose words would later be used to agitate the working classes into revolutionary action against the bourgeoisie. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels were born 140 miles apart within 30 months of each other, both into comfortable, middle-class Prussian households. Marx’s father was a lawyer and made cash on the side as