When did Communism start?

The theory and ideas of Communism were developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in the 19th century. The first government established on those principals was that of Russia under Vladimir Lenin in October of 1917.

Marx developed Marxism with the help of Engels. Communism, the idea that goods should be held by the collective (community) rather than individuals, has been around a lot longer. traditionally even British culture was more communal than it is now. There were lots of struggles when the common (last remaining commonly owned land) was gotten rid of. Groups like the Diggers protested in 1649. Many native cultures in North America got so ripped off because the idea of the land belonging to anyone was so foreign to them that they didn't understand it and it got taken by Europeans.

No Government has ever been established on the principles of Communism as defined by Marx and Engels. In fact, the idea of Communist Government is a contradiction in terms. What we lazily call Communism is simply good old Capitalism where the faceless government owns the wealth, just like the faceless corporations who own the wealth of the "free world."

The idea of common ownership in a classless society of humans, however, is very old. We might better ask: When did communism end? And the answer might be: With the Division of Labor, which introduced drudgery and social class.