Final answer:
The Balkan Peninsula was a 'powder keg' due to nationalism, the decline of the Ottoman Empire, and conflicting ambitions of European powers, particularly after the Balkan Wars, leading to the alliances and rivalries that precipitated the outbreak of World War I.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Balkan Peninsula in Europe was regarded as a 'powder keg' prior to the Great War due to a mix of intensifying nationalism, the decline of the Ottoman Empire, and the expansionist desires of Austria-Hungary and other powers. This volatility was exacerbated by pan-Slavic nationalism, which sought to unify Slavic peoples and was championed by Serbia and supported by Russia. The Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913 further destabilized the region, with the latter directly involving Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and other European powers, setting the stage for wider conflict.The Balkans' strategic importance came from its diverse nationalities and strategic location between several empires. As the weakening Ottomans retreated, Austria-Hungary and Russia saw opportunities to extend their influence. Serbia's ambition to expand Slavic influence clashed with Austria-Hungary, which led to the Balkan Wars. These conflicts, combined with imperial rivalries and a complex system of alliances, meant that a local conflict could easily ignite a broader war. This tension came to a head with the assassination of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Bosnian Serb nationalist, which triggered World War I when European powers, bound by alliances, were drawn into the conflict.Conclusion The Balkans' pivotal role in the run-up to World War I can be attributed to its strategic significance, the heightened nationalism, the retreat of the Ottoman Empire, and the predatory stances of neighboring empires, all of which contributed to the powder keg atmosphere that ultimately led to the outbreak of the war.