Territorial Disputes: The acquisition of colonies and territories often led to territorial disputes and conflicts between European powers. For example, the French and British had long-standing rivalries over control of North Africa and the Middle East.
Arms Race: As tensions between European powers grew, they began to build up their militaries. This led to an arms race, with each country trying to outdo the others in terms of military strength.
Alliances: In order to protect themselves against potential threats, European powers formed alliances with other countries. These alliances created a web of interconnected relationships that made it difficult to resolve conflicts peacefully.
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand: The heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist in 1914. This event sparked a chain of events that led to the outbreak of World War I.