The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in June 1914 is widely recognized as the catalyst for World War I. His murder by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist, escalated existing tensions between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war on Serbia activated a network of alliances, drawing multiple nations, including Germany, Russia, and France, into the conflict. This war reshaped political borders and ultimately led to significant social, economic, and political upheaval in Europe, setting the stage for future conflicts and historical events.