Communist Manifesto Page 8 Help

[Frederick Alexander]

Good evening all. I'm new to the forum and to the communist ideology and my reason for being here is to learn. The first book I've decided to read is the communist manifesto by Marx and I've stumble already at page 8. I'm going to quote the passage I'm struggling with and I'd like to get someone to explain it to me in layman terms. Sorry if I come across as a bit thick but as I've said I'm completely new to the ideology. I imagine I'll be posting more passages that I'm struggling with in the future. I appreciate any help anyone can offer.


The bourgeoisie cannot exist without constantly revolutionizing the instruments of production, and thereby the relations of production, and with them the whole relations of society. Conservation of the old modes of production in unaltered form, was, on the contrary, the first condition of existence for all earlier industrial classes. Constant revolutionizing of production, uninterrupted disturbance of all social conditions, everlasting uncertainty and agitation distinguish the bourgeoisie epoch form all earlier ones. All fixed fast-frozen relations with their train of ancient and venerable prejudices and opinions are swept away, all new formed ones become antiquated before they can ossify. All that is solid melts into air, all that is holy is profaned, and man is at last compelled to face with sober senses, his real conditions of life, and his relations with his kind.

[Red Commissar]

As I understand it, they were pointing out what made capitalism and the bourgeoisie different from periods proceeding it. In their analysis they saw that the order that the bourgeoisie created was able to change and adapt its methods in order to keep up with expanding markets, and continue itself in such a way that it wouldn't collapse because it became a burdensome relic, as did the systems before capitalism did.

However a result of this is creating the social relations we see in capitalism.

[el_chavista]

I have a version of the Manifesto with explanatory notes (in Spanish) that may be useful for you in these two paragraphs:


The bourgeoisie cannot exist without constantly revolutionizing the instruments of production, and thereby the relations of production, and with them the whole relations of society. The bourgeoisie is not only a revolutionary social class, but can not stop being a revolutionary class. It is revolutionary in its nature and essence. Due to competition among bourgeois, the benefits tend to fall to zero. Therefore, the bourgeoisie can only exist as a class if they are continually improving products and production, and this continued progress of the economy causes continuous changes in society and its ideology.
This competition among bourgeois, causes a concentration of capital in fewer and fewer hands. The creation of monopolies and oligopolies will diminish competition and the bourgeoisie is becoming less and less revolutionary and as soon as no longer revolutionary, it will disappear as a class. Again, Marx and Engels are applying historical materialism.


All fixed fast-frozen relations with their train of ancient and venerable prejudices and opinions are swept away, all new formed ones become antiquated before they can ossify.New application of historical materialism. Due to their constant revolution of the means and systems of production, the bourgeoisie is continually changing ideas and beliefs of society, even when they have just birth and begin to take roots.