The political landscape in Europe leading up to World War I was characterized by intense nationalism, militarism, and intricate alliances. Major powers, including Germany, France, Austria-Hungary, and Russia, were embroiled in a competitive arms race and territorial disputes. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in June 1914 catalyzed existing tensions, causing a rapid mobilization of military forces. The complex web of alliances—such as the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) and the Triple Entente (France, Russia, Britain)—meant that a local conflict quickly escalated into a full-scale war that engulfed Europe and eventually the world.