Question

What does "Material forces drive history" mean?

Answer 1

Google It.!

Answer 2

Well, material refers to anything substantial or, more precisely, made of matter. What this person is saying is that it is our interactions with the material world that drive us to do certain things, rather than our interactions with spiritual worlds. This is arguable, but the largest contributing factor to wars of all kinds throughout history have been access to resources, particularly food and water. It doesn't get much more "material" than drinking and eating.

Now religious wars like The Crusades occurred, if taken at face value, as a result of a spiritual decree. In actuality though, the "reclamation" of the Holy Land was again a material concern because even though the land was considered "holy" the whole endeavor was, after all, about occupying space. Land.

Answer 3

Even the civil rights movement, that was offered elsewhere as an example of non-material driving forces, was about material resources. It was the right to own land and have wealth, the material means for independence, that drove people to fight. Lots of people know that other people are racist and don't go and fight them, they just ignore them. But they can't ignore not being allowed a job.

Answer 4

alrighty thankz guys :)