The term mode of production derives from the work of Karl Marx (1818–1883), Marx used the term mode of production to refer to the specific organization of economic production in a given society. A mode of production includes the means of production used by a given society, such as factories and other facilities, machines, and raw materials. It also includes labor and the organization of the labor force. According to Marx, history evolves through the interaction between the mode of production and the relations of production. The mode of production constantly evolves toward a realization of its fullest productive capacity, but this evolution creates antagonisms between the classes of people defined by the relations of production—owners and workers. Marx characterized human history in terms of the way in which ownership of the means of production was the most important single variable involved in the characterization of each distinct period (or epoch) in history. He identified five major epoch; Primitive communism - characteristic of early human history where people held everything in common. The Ancient epoch (slave society) - societies based upon slavery where the means of production was owned and controlled by an aristocratic elite. Feudal society - where land was the most important means of production. This was owned / controlled by an aristocratic class, the majority of people belonging to a peasant class. Capitalist society - where technological development (machinery etc.) has allowed a bourgeois class to exploit factory forms of production for their private gain. The aristocracy (landowners) have either been marginalized or co-opted into the Bourgeoisie whilst the majority of people are wage-labourers (they own little or no capital). The main relations of production in this epoch are between employers and employees (those who own and use capital and
The term mode of production derives from the work of Karl Marx (1818–1883), Marx used the term mode of production to refer to the specific organization of economic production in a given society. A mode of production includes the means of production used by a given society, such as factories and other facilities, machines, and raw materials. It also includes labor and the organization of the labor force. According to Marx, history evolves through the interaction between the mode of production and the relations of production. The mode of production constantly evolves toward a realization of its fullest productive capacity, but this evolution creates antagonisms between the classes of people defined by the relations of production—owners and workers. Marx characterized human history in terms of the way in which ownership of the means of production was the most important single variable involved in the characterization of each distinct period (or epoch) in history. He identified five major epoch; Primitive communism - characteristic of early human history where people held everything in common. The Ancient epoch (slave society) - societies based upon slavery where the means of production was owned and controlled by an aristocratic elite. Feudal society - where land was the most important means of production. This was owned / controlled by an aristocratic class, the majority of people belonging to a peasant class. Capitalist society - where technological development (machinery etc.) has allowed a bourgeois class to exploit factory forms of production for their private gain. The aristocracy (landowners) have either been marginalized or co-opted into the Bourgeoisie whilst the majority of people are wage-labourers (they own little or no capital). The main relations of production in this epoch are between employers and employees (those who own and use capital and