Karl Marx was a 19th-century philosopher, political economist, and revolutionary who laid the scientific foundation for socialism. From a young age, Marx was deeply devoted to the study of philosophy and history. He initially pursued an academic career and was on the verge of becoming an assistant professor in philosophy before shifting his focus to revolutionary activities. Marx became actively involved in political movements and addressed a broad range of social concerns. He is best known for his historical analysis and his advocacy for radical socioeconomic reform through revolutionary action. Although Marx was not widely recognized during his lifetime, his theories, later termed "Marxism," gained significant influence after his death. Marxism inspired workers' movements across the world and reached a pivotal moment during the Russian October Revolution, when the Marxist Bolsheviks led by Lenin came to power. Subsequently, various theoretical offshoots of Marxism emerged, including Stalinism, Trotskyism, and Leninism. Among Marx's most influential works are The Communist Manifesto (co-authored with Friedrich Engels) and Das Kapital, which profoundly impacted political leaders such as Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong, and Leon Trotsky.