The materialist conception of history, also known as historical materialism, is a view developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels according to which 'material' or economic factors, particularly the mode of production (how society organises the production of goods and services), have a prime role in determining historical change and the development of social structures, political systems, law, religion, and culture (the superstructure). This perspective argues that the way a society produces its material necessities shapes its social relations and its overall organisation. Changes in the mode of production, such as the shift from feudalism to capitalism, are seen as the fundamental driving forces behind historical transformations, leading to new class structures and social conflicts that ultimately propel societal development. The materialist conception of history emphasises the importance of economic conditions and class struggles in understanding the evolution of human societies.