Final answer:
Auguste Comte reintroduced 'sociology' and is credited with its establishment as an academic field; Émile Durkheim established the first sociology department in Europe and Karl Marx's theories also heavily influenced sociology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question revolves around the origins of sociology and who first developed ideas about this academic discipline. Although many thinkers have contributed to the study of societies, it was Auguste Comte who reintroduced the term 'sociology' and is often credited with making it a distinct academic field. Karl Marx and Émile Durkheim are among the three fathers of sociology, with Durkheim formally establishing the first European department of sociology and publishing influential works that set the groundwork for this field. It's important to note that Marx's ideas also heavily influenced sociology, especially with his analysis of class struggles and socio-economic theories, but Durkheim is typically recognized for institutionalizing sociology as an academic discipline.