A significant factor that led to the start of World War I was the web of alliances formed between the major European powers, which created a precarious balance of power. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in 1914 catalyzed existing tensions. Austria-Hungary, seeking to punish Serbia, declared war, invoking alliances that quickly drew multiple countries into the conflict. Nationalism, militarism, and imperial ambitions further escalated the situation. The resulting declaration of war among the allied nations turned a regional conflict into a global war, resulting in chaos and historic consequences for Europe and the world at large.