Introduction
World War I was a global military conflict that took place from1914 to 1918 in Europe. The was sparked by the assassination of the Heir to the Austrian throne, Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princip on June 28th, 1914.
A chain reaction was set off by when the Austria-Hungary force retaliated against Serbia. This led to the declaration of war.
This event was simply an eye-opener that prompted the declarations of war. The real causes of the war were far more complex. These reasons were:
- Mutual Defense Alliance
- Imperialism
- Militarism
- Nationalism
Joint Defense Alliance
Before World War 1, alliances existed throughout Europe as a result of a joint defense agreement that would pull them together in battles. Russia was an ally to Serbia, Germany to Austria-Hungary, etc.
Imperialism
Imperialism was brought about by countries taking over other countries, hence increasing their wealth and power. At stake were Africa and Asia as they were reaching in Raw materials.
Militarism
The military build-up was another cause of war. There was an arms race as countries competed to have a strong military force.
Nationalism
Some Slavic people wanted to be part of Serbia instead of Austria-Hungary. This was another cause of war.
Countries involved in World War 1
The major central powers involved in the World War 1 were Germany, Austria Hungary, and turkey. France, Britain, Japan, and Italy were allied powers that were involved in World War One. The United States joined far much later in 1917.
Conclusion
During and after World War 1, major technological improvements came into existence. These included: New military hardware, new communication equipment, and better skills associated with this new technology.