The primary purpose of the Crusades, which commenced in the Middle Ages, was to recapture the Holy Land from Muslim control. Initiated by Pope Urban II in 1095, the Crusades were a series of religious and military campaigns aimed at reclaiming Jerusalem and other sacred sites for Christianity. The series of Crusades lasted for several centuries, leading to widespread conflict between Christians and Muslims, along with significant cultural exchanges. Though they did not achieve long-term possession of the Holy Land, the Crusades impacted European society, economy, and relationships with the Islamic world.