Historical materialism is a way of looking at history that focuses on how people's actions and the world around them shape their ideas. It moves away from abstract thinking to focus on real-life experiences. This approach, developed by Marx and Engels, challenges traditional metaphysical philosophy by emphasizing the importance of studying people and their development through observation and critical thinking. In historical materialism, history includes not just human events but also the environment and nature. This perspective values understanding the world as it is, rather than focusing on abstract concepts.