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Bourgeoisie refers to the capitalist class who own the means of production and the wealth in a capitalist society. From the perspective of historical materialism, the bourgeoisie plays a key role in the capitalist mode of production and the exploitation of the proletariat.

Historical determinism is the theory that historical events are predetermined by the existing economic, social, and technological forces. Within historical materialism, this suggests that the development of society follows a predictable pattern based on the mode of production.

Surplus value is a concept in Marxism that refers to the difference between the value produced by labor and the actual wage paid to the laborer. In historical materialism, surplus value is key to understanding the exploitation of the working class (proletariat) by the capitalist class (bourgeoisie).

The capitalist mode of production is an economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production and the creation of goods and services for profit. Historical materialism examines the capitalist mode as a transitory stage in the social and economic development of human history.

The mode of production in historical materialism refers to the varied ways that human society organizes the production and exchange of goods and services, including the means of production and the relation of production. It's seen as the fundamental determinant of societal structure and change.

Commodity fetishism is a concept in Marxist theory that refers to the distorted relationship between people and the production and consumption of goods, where the social relationships and labor that produce commodities are obscured and commodities are imbued with a perceived intrinsic value. This concept is central to understanding the alienation experienced in capitalist societies.

Alienation in Marxist theory describes the estrangement of people from aspects of their human nature due to living in a society of stratified social classes. It's a central concept in historical materialism for explaining the dehumanizing effects of capitalist production on workers.

Historical materialism is a theory developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels which argues that material conditions and economic factors are the primary drivers of historical and social change. This serves as the foundation for the Marxist socio-economic analysis.

The feudal mode of production is characterized by a social system where the agricultural population is bound to the land and to relationships of lordship and vassalage. Historical materialism analyzes how this mode leads to its own form of class struggle and, ultimately, the transition to capitalism.

Relations of production in historical materialism refer to the social and technical relationships people enter into as they acquire and use the means of production. These relationships are key to understanding the class structure and the exploitation within a society.

Communism is a theoretical end-state of societal development according to historical materialism, characterized by a classless, stateless society in which the means of production are commonly owned, and the products of labor are available to all members of society. It's seen as the resolution of class struggles and contradictions inherent in earlier modes of production.

Class struggle is the tension and antagonism that exists in society due to competing economic interests between different social classes. Historical materialism sees class struggle as the driving force of historical development and societal transformation.

The proletariat is the class of wage-laborers who own no means of production and must sell their labor power to survive. Historical materialism focuses on the proletariat's exploitation by the bourgeoisie, and its potential for revolutionary change.

Materialism is the philosophical concept that matter is the fundamental substance in nature, and that all phenomena, including mental phenomena and consciousness, are the result of material interactions. In the context of historical materialism, it's the basis for the focus on material (economic and technological) factors as the primary influence on the development of human societies.

The means of production in historical materialism are the tools, facilities, and resources used to produce goods and services. They include everything from land to factories and technology, and their ownership and control are key factors in the class dynamics of society.

In the context of historical materialism, a revolution is a fundamental and rapid change in the political and economic structures of a society, often provoked by class struggles. This concept is crucial for understanding the transition from one mode of production to another.

In Marxist theory, the 'base' refers to the mode of production in a society (the economic foundation), while the 'superstructure' consists of the cultural, ideological, and institutional structures built upon it. Historical materialism posits that changes in the base lead to changes in the superstructure.

False consciousness is a term used by Marxist theorists to describe the way in which material, ideological, and institutional processes in capitalist society mislead members of the proletariat and other classes. Historical materialism considers false consciousness a significant barrier to class consciousness and revolutionary change.

Dialectical materialism is a philosophical approach that combines materialism with the dialectic method. It sees progress in history and society as the result of the conflict between opposing forces, emphasizing the process of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis. This framework supports the view of history as a dynamic and transformative process.