1. Militarism: The buildup of arms and military forces by European countries, particularly Germany, France, and Russia. This created a sense of insecurity and fear among nations and fueled competition and rivalry.
2. Alliances: The formation of alliances between European countries, such as the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy) and the Triple Entente (Britain, France, and Russia). These alliances created a web of obligations and commitments that made it difficult to resolve conflicts peacefully.
3. Imperialism: The expansionist policies of European countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Competition for colonies and resources led to heightened tensions and rivalries among the major powers.
4. Nationalism: The rise of nationalism and patriotic sentiment in Europe. This fueled a desire for territorial expansion and increased tensions between countries.
These four factors interacted and worked together to create the conditions that led to the outbreak of World War I. The buildup of military forces and the competition for colonies and resources created a sense of insecurity and fear among European nations. The formation of alliances and the rise of nationalism made it difficult to resolve conflicts peacefully. Ultimately, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in June 1914 triggered a series of events that led to the outbreak of war.