Marxist Theory and the Transition from Feudalism to Capitalism

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering Karl Marx's view of social change, the means of production, Hegelian dialectics versus class struggle, and the socioeconomic hierarchy of feudalism.

Primary Question of Marx's Analysis

The core sociological inquiry into how Karl Marx conceptualizes social change.

Global Centers of Capitalism

The most advanced regions in the world employing modern capitalism that hold the most power, historically led by the US, with China, Brazil, India, and Japan on the rise.

European Central Bank

The central banking institution located in Frankfurt, Germany, exemplifying Germany's power within the European Union.

Means of Production

Also known as forces of production, these include the resources needed for producing goods, such as land, animals, tools, machinery, and the control of labor processes.

Supra

In the theoretical language introduced in the lecture, a term meaning within.

Super

In the theoretical language introduced in the lecture, a term meaning between or outside of.

Emancipatory Project

Marx's project calling for individuals to recognize their role in capitalism, step outside existing constraints, and change the mode of production to shared wealth and collective decision-making.

Hegelian Dialectic

A framework where an existing thesis enters into conflict with an antithesis, resulting in a new synthesis that serves as the foundation for the next thesis through conflicts over ideas.

Class (Marxian Definition)

A group of people categorized by a common relation to the means of production.

Lords

Feudal figures granted control over specific territories by the monarch who oversee the land, command knights, and collect tribute from serfs.

Knights and Vassals

Feudal functionaries beneath the lords who act as middle management to help run daily operations without holding ultimate control.

Serfs

Agricultural workers who farm the land, keep a small portion of the food they produce, and pay the rest upward as tribute to the lords.

Reciprocal Obligation (Feudal System)

A reciprocal social arrangement in feudalism where the bottom provides loyalty and material goods upward, while the top provides protection and places to live.