Karl Marx critiqued capitalism for its inherent inequalities, specifically the exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie. He proposed that communism would resolve these class conflicts by abolishing private property and the means of production, thereby creating a classless society where resources are distributed based on need rather than profit.

Alienation from the self (or species-essence) occurs when work becomes a repetitive, mechanical task that denies the worker's creative potential. When labor no longer serves as a means of self-expression or purpose, the individual feels estranged from their own human nature and identity.

The question references a comparison between Iqbal's poetic reflection on the evolution of civilization and sociological theories. While Karl Marx is often cited in this context due to his focus on historical materialism and the transition of societies through economic and social stages, this interpretation remains a subject of academic debate in South Asian sociological discourse.

Friedrich Engels was a lifelong collaborator of Karl Marx. Together, they developed the theory of historical materialism and co-authored 'The Communist Manifesto'. Engels provided significant financial and intellectual support, and his own writings, such as 'The Condition of the Working Class in England', were instrumental in shaping socialist thought.

Marx identified alienation as a core feature of capitalism. Alienation from the product occurs because the worker does not own the goods they produce; these products become an alien force that confronts the worker, as they are controlled by the capitalist and serve to increase capital rather than fulfill the worker's creative needs.

In Marxist historical materialism, the ancient mode of production is characterized by a master-slave relationship. The economy relied heavily on slave labor, where the masters owned the means of production and the laborers themselves, resulting in the systemic oppression of the enslaved population.

Karl Marx argued that the proletariat often suffered from 'false consciousness,' a state where they accepted the ideology of the ruling class, failing to recognize their own exploitation. A social movement, driven by collective action and political organization, would help workers develop 'class consciousness,' allowing them to see their true position in the capitalist structure and unite to challenge the existing power dynamics.

Karl Marx's historical materialism posits that societal change is driven by material conditions and class struggle. The verse reflects a transition from the 'sword and spear' (material/physical force) to the 'lute and harp' (cultural/superstructural elements), which aligns with the Marxist view of how economic bases influence the cultural superstructure over time.

Marx argued that class struggle is a historical constant found in all societies characterized by private property and inequality, not just capitalism. While he focused heavily on the capitalist mode of production, he acknowledged that class conflict existed in previous historical epochs, such as feudalism and slavery.

The Labour Theory of Value posits that the value of a commodity is determined by the socially necessary labor time required for its production. This is a foundational concept in classical economics and Marxist theory, distinguishing between the labor input and the final market price.