The causes of World War I are complex and still debated to this day. While the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary is often cited as the immediate cause of the war, there were many other factors that contributed to the conflict. Here are some of the most commonly cited root causes of World War I:

• Mutual Defense Alliances: Over time, countries throughout Europe entered into mutual defense agreements with one another. This meant that if one country went to war, its allies would be obligated to join the fight as well.

• Imperialism: The expansion of European nations as empires can be seen as a key cause of World War I. As countries like Britain and France expanded their empires, it resulted in increased tensions among European countries.

• Militarism: Many countries in Europe had been building up their military forces for years, and this arms race contributed to the growing tensions between nations.

• Nationalism: Nationalism, or the belief that ones country is superior to others, was a powerful force in Europe at the time. This led to competition and rivalries between nations.

• Serbian Nationalism: The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was carried out by a Serbian nationalist terrorist group called the Black Hand. This event led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia, which in turn led to other countries joining the fight.

• Conflicts over Alliances: The mutual defense alliances that had been formed between countries led to conflicts when one country went to war and its allies were obligated to join the fight as well.

Taken together, these factors created a complex web of tensions and rivalries that eventually led to the outbreak of World War I.