Marx and Gramsci: The connection between Marxism and classical antiquity

An analysis explores the historical connection between Marxist thinkers and classical antiquity. It notes that Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels were significant Hellenists, with Marx frequently reading ancient Greek texts in their original form and writing notes in the language. His treatises on Democritus and Epicurus highlight the influence of ancient Greek philosophy on his thought.

Similarly, Antonio Gramsci encouraged students and workers to study the classics and learn Ancient Greek and Latin to broaden their intellect and strengthen political action. The text argues that this relationship between Marxism and antiquity shaped various arts and sciences until the rise of postmodernism and the 'Woke' agenda, which the author suggests has distanced leftist intellectuals from the working class and allowed the political Right to reclaim classical studies for neoliberal ideological purposes.