The Communist Manifesto was authored by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, first published in 1848. This influential political pamphlet outlined the principles of Marxism and called for the proletariat (working class) to rise against the bourgeoisie (capitalist class). It critiqued capitalist societies, analyzed class struggles, and advocated for the establishment of a classless society through revolutionary means. The manifesto has had a profound impact on global political thought, inspiring various social movements and revolutions throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, and continues to be a key reference in discussions about socialism and communism.