Marx and the Material Dialectic

According to Marxisim, any ruling class in history has controlled the means of production and or distribution and has used the resulting influence to rule. Conflict arises when a new means of production is discovered. The struggle between the old ruling class and the class controlling the new and better means of production results in a new ruling class. A good example of this is how the businessman and his money replaced the land and inheritance based power of the old aristocracy in England. Marx also believed that eventually a new and better form of society with complete class equality would arise from this struggle.