Known as "the powder keg of Europe," the Balkans were the scene of frequent conflict in the years leading up to the First World War, including the First and Second Balkan Wars in 1912 and 1913. The Balkans were home to a large number of ethnic groups, including Slavs, Greeks, Hungarians, Romanians, Bulgarians, and Turks. Nationalist feelings were high among many ethnic groups, resulting in increased tensions. Several of the great powers had aspirations in the Balkans as well. Many had predicted that the Balkans would one day be the cause of major conflict in Europe, and this did turn out to be the case; the First World War began in the Balkans over a conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia.
