The causes of the conflict

1. The root causes

1.1. Political conflicts

1.1.1. Territorial conflicts

1.1.1.1. France vs. Germany

1.1.1.2. Italy vs. Austria-Hungary

1.1.2. Nationalistic conflicts

1.1.2.1. Colonial conflicts:

1.2. Economic rivalries

1.2.1. Commercial competition between countries

1.3. Military alliance system

1.3.1. "Peace trough strength"

2. The spark of war

2.1. The conflict initiated with the assasination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand

2.2. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia