The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated by European Christians from the late 11th to the late 13th centuries. Their primary goal was to reclaim the Holy Land, particularly Jerusalem, from Muslim control. The first Crusade began in 1096, leading to the capture of Jerusalem in 1099, while subsequent Crusades aimed to maintain Christian territories and respond to Muslim advances. Over the years, several major Crusades occurred, including the Second Crusade (1147-1149) and the Third Crusade (1189-1192), which featured notable leaders like Richard the Lionheart. The Crusades had lasting impacts on Christian-Muslim relations, trade, and cultural exchanges between Europe and the Middle East.