World War I, also known as the Great War, was a global conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918.

It was
triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary, which set off a chain
reaction of alliances and declarations of war among European powers. The war involved most of the
world's great powers, organized into two opposing alliances: the Allies (including France, Russia, and
later the United States and others) and the Central Powers (including Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the
Ottoman Empire).

Key features of WWI included trench warfare, where soldiers fought from dug-in positions along a
stagnant front line; technological advancements like tanks, airplanes, and chemical weapons; and the
immense human suffering caused by high casualties and widespread destruction.

The war fundamentally reshaped global politics, economics, and societies. It led to the collapse of
empires (such as the Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, Russian, and German), the redrawing of national
boundaries, and the Treaty of Versailles, which imposed harsh reparations on Germany and laid the
groundwork for unresolved tensions that would contribute to World War II.

WWI's legacy includes the profound impact on international relations, the development of modern
warfare tactics and technology, and the establishment of the League of Nations, an early attempt at
international cooperation aimed at preventing future conflicts