Before the outbreak of World War I, the world was largely defined by a few great powers and their relations. These powers include Great Britain, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and **. These countries vied for global influence in terms of economy, military, and colonial expansion.
The colonial expansion of the Western powers abroad was one of the fundamental reasons for the outbreak of World War I. Britain and France had large colonial empires, while rising stars such as Germany were at a disadvantage in the battle for colonies. In the imperialist period of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these countries fought for colonies by force in order to obtain maximum monopoly benefits. Economically, the major market economies also experienced periodic economic crises before the war, which further exacerbated tensions in international relations.
In order to protect their own interests, a complex system of military alliances was formed between the great powers. Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy formed the Triple Alliance, while France, **, and Great Britain formed the Triple Entente. These alliances maintained the balance of power in Europe to a certain extent, but they were also competitive alliances that set the stage for the outbreak of World War I.
Between the great powers, there are multiple contradictions. For example, the rise of Germany challenged Britain's maritime supremacy, leading to escalating tensions between the two countries. Franco-German relations were strained by the Franco-Prussian War, and conflicts of interest between the Balkans and Austria-Hungary were on the verge of breaking out. These contradictions eventually led to the outbreak of World War I.
The pre-World War I world was a complex web of imperialist competition, colonial expansion, economic crises, and military alliances. These factors intertwined and eventually led to a war that had global repercussions. In the process, the relationship between the great powers was intricate, both cooperative and confrontational, and eventually inevitably led to conflict.