In which year did the First World War begin?

The First World War began in 1914 due to a culmination of complex political tensions, militarization, and imperial rivalries among European powers. The immediate trigger was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Serbian nationalist in June 1914, resulting in a series of diplomatic and military actions. This event ignited a chain reaction of alliances and declarations of war, leading to a widespread conflict involving major powers such as Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom. The war escalated rapidly, engulfing Europe and eventually spreading to various parts of the world, thus earning its status as the first truly global conflict.