To what extent was imperialism one of the causes of the outbreak of the First World War? World War I, also known as the Great War, was a global war centered in Europe that lasted from July 28, 1914 to November 11, 1918. After the war the British Empire began to unravel and the German and Austro-Hungarian empires were broken up. Imperialism was one of the significant causes of the outbreak of World War I because it set the major powers on a path of conflict. Equally significant were the alliance systems, which divided Europe in two, and the nationalism which created the desire for global recognition among peoples and nations. Imperialism was a major factor in the outbreak of World War I because it created conflicts between the European powers and led to a world war. suspicious European environment. By the end of the 19th century, European powers had established their political, military, economic, and cultural dominance in both Africa and Asia. Attracted by gold and diamonds, many European countries began to colonize Africa. Eventually, the British managed to penetrate the Transvaal, disturbing the lives of the Boers living there. The result was resentment and increased hostility between both sides. Finally, in 1899, the allied Boer States of the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State declared war on Britain. Seeing this as an opportunity to strengthen its position in Africa, Germany provided the Boers with superior weapons that allowed them to fight until they surrendered in 1902. Shortly after the Boer War, fearing German interference in its overseas possessions, the Britain abandoned its policy of Splendid Isolation and signed a naval treaty with Japan. In 1904, Russia's attempt to colonize Japanese-controlled Korea led to Japan's declaration of war... middle of paper... the government calculated that Germany would have to engage the Triple Entente in battle before 1917, otherwise she would have been defeated. Consequently, knowing that Russia would intervene and that the war would involve the entire Triple Entente, Germany gave the Austro-Hungarians a "blank check". On 28 July 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. World War I had begun. Although World War I began in the summer of 1914, the causes of this global war can be traced back a long way. Imperialism in Africa and the Balkans has created tensions and conflicts throughout Europe, leading to a hostile environment in Europe. Alliance systems created unalterable military plans that placed more faith in armed force than diplomacy. Nationalism created an environment in Europe where nations and people were eager to gain worldwide recognition and led to both a naval and military arms race between Britain and Germany.