The Communist Manifesto is a political pamphlet written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, published in 1848. It outlines the principles of communism and critiques the capitalist system. The manifesto argues that history is driven by class struggles and calls for the working class, or proletariat, to rise against the ruling class, or bourgeoisie, to establish a classless society. The document is divided into four sections, discussing the nature of capitalism, the role of the proletariat, and the goals of communism. It emphasizes the need for collective ownership of the means of production and advocates for the abolition of private property to achieve social equality.