Marx's world history theory, including a profound exposition of the essential characteristics, development motive force, historical subject, basic path and inevitable trend of world history, is an extremely rich and rigorous scientific theoretical system.
1. The transition from history to world history is an objective material process.
History is nothing more than the alternation of generations. Each generation uses the materials, funds and productivity left over from the previous generation; Therefore, on the one hand, each generation continues to engage in inherited activities in a completely changed environment, on the other hand, it changes the old environment through completely changed activities.
2. The formation of world history is the objective requirement of the development of social productive forces and the inevitable result of scientific and technological progress.
Marx and Engels pointed out that the formation of world history is essentially the product of a series of changes in the mode of production and exchange, and its fundamental reason lies in the objective requirements of the development of social productive forces.
The bourgeoisie has played a very important role in the formation of world history.
Marx and Engels pointed out that "the bourgeoisie has played a very revolutionary role in history", which is mainly manifested in the following aspects: First, it has created enormous social productive forces. The second is to dig the national foundation at the foot of industry and open up a huge world market. Third, every step of its development is accompanied by corresponding political achievements.
However, it must be pointed out that the fundamental motive force for the bourgeoisie to promote the formation and development of world history is capital. Everything is for the maximization of surplus value and interests, which is the absolute law of capitalist mode of production.
4. The formation and development of world history have prominent duality characteristics.
In his speech at the commemorative meeting of London People's Daily on April 1856, Marx said: "In our time, everything seems to contain its own negative side ... on the one hand, modern industry and science, on the other hand, modern poverty and decline, and the confrontation between productivity and social relations in our time is obvious and inevitable.
5. The basic path and inevitable trend of world historical development
World history is a process. Essentially, it is the formation and development of capitalism and the process from capitalism to socialism and communism. So, what is the inevitable trend of the development of world history? This is the establishment of a "real community" of human society-a communist society.