Is there evidence in the chart to support the argument that an arms build up was underlying cause of world war 1

Germany was lagging behind many countries, mostly Britain in the arms build-up. Germany wanted to grow out their militarism to either keep its nation safe or to expand, all for its self-benefit. It was also to show that Germany was capable of independence from the network of allies they had.

(Counter Arguement below)

However, since one country had joined an alliance with others, their military powers would be combined and would've had a bigger impact than a single country. The network of alliances let nations help each other in war and with this extra power, they were able to control and have more power against a single nation.  

it took two men to wrestle rome back from chaos and turn a republic into an empire. in the first century bc, rome was a republic. power lay in the hands of the senate, elected by roman citizens. but the senators were fighting for power between themselves.

what the first or next guys says