Elementary school history was really long time ago. Though having been born in the Balkans - there's a lot of emphasis on history (in hopes to learn and not repeat same mistakes).
IIRC WWI was continuation of things that were left unresolved from Balkan wars (big powers only jumped in at the end of Balkan wars to get their say/way into peace agreements).
And Balkan wars were continuation of the fall of Ottoman empire where many Balkan countries tried to continue with how things were ~500 years earlier (before Ottomans captured Balkans).
IIRC WWI was continuation of things that were left unresolved from Balkan wars (big powers only jumped in at the end of Balkan wars to get their say/way into peace agreements).
And Balkan wars were continuation of the fall of Ottoman empire where many Balkan countries tried to continue with how things were ~500 years earlier (before Ottomans captured Balkans).