Triple Alliance: Germany, Italy, Austro-Hungarian
Triple Entente: Russia, France, Britain
• When: 1870-1918, Industrial era
• Why: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to Austro-Hungarian throne) o Mounting popular nationalism (p882-84)
1871: the unification of Italy and Germany made Europe’s already competitive international relations even more so, and much of this rivalry spilled over into the struggle for colonies or economic concessions in Asia and Africa
Industrial era made overseas expansion more desirable or even urgent.
• Steam-driven ships, moving through the new Suez Canal, completed in 1869, allowed Europeans to reach distant Asian and African