When was the Communist Manifesto published?

In February 1848, in German, in London, shortly before revolutions spread across Europe.

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, commissioned by the Communist League.

Why is the time approximate?

Publication dates rarely carry an hour. The Museum marks such entries with a midday UTC timestamp and says so.

February 21, 1848

1848-02-21 12:00 UTC

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The Communist Manifesto is published

A pamphlet printed in London sets out a theory of history that will organise and divide the next century.

Source ↗

What happened in this minute

Marx and Engels wrote it for the Communist League, and it appeared in German in London weeks before revolutions broke out across Europe.

It sold poorly at first. Its influence came later, through translation and through states that claimed it, and its arguments about class, capital and globalisation are still quoted by people who reject its conclusions.

The publication date is recorded; the hour is not, so this entry uses a midday UTC marker.

Questions and answers

When was the Communist Manifesto published?: In February 1848, in German, in London, shortly before revolutions spread across Europe.
Who wrote it?: Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, commissioned by the Communist League.
Why is the time approximate?: Publication dates rarely carry an hour. The Museum marks such entries with a midday UTC timestamp and says so.