Final answer:
Marx's ideas, articulated in 'The Communist Manifesto' and known as Marxism, revolve around the conflict between the working class and the ruling capitalists, predicting a shift towards socialism and eventually, a classless communist society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Marx's Revolutionary Ideas and Legacy
The ideas of Karl Marx, presented in his seminal work, The Communist Manifesto, co-authored with Friedrich Engels, became known as Marxism. This theory posited that the history of society is one of class struggle, where the workers (proletariat) are exploited by the ruling class (bourgeoisie) who own the means of production. Marx and Engels believed that capitalism would eventually be replaced by socialism, and later by a classless society - communism.
They proposed that the transition to this ideal state would require a revolutionary overthrow of existing capitalist societies, precipitating the rise of worker's governance and the end of class divisions. Marxism became an inspiration for international communist movements, setting the backdrop for many political upheavals and the establishment of communist states.