The Crusades were a series of religious wars that took place between the 11th and 13th centuries. They were organized and carried out by European Christians, particularly Roman Catholics, to free the Holy Land, particularly Jerusalem and other areas in the Middle East, from Muslim rule and to restore access to Christian holy sites.
The causes of the Crusades were varied and included religious, political, economic and social factors. These included the desire for religious redemption and forgiveness of sins, the prospect of riches and lands in the East, the expansion of power and influence of the church and the nobility, and the pressure on the Christian kingdoms of Europe caused by the advance of Islam in parts of the Mediterranean.
A total of eight major crusades took place in the period from 1096 to 1291, during which tens of thousands of people, including knights, mercenaries and ordinary citizens, moved from Europe to the Middle East to fight against the Muslim rulers. There were also smaller crusades and waves of crusades focused on other areas such as Spain or the Baltics.
The Crusades had a far-reaching impact on the history of Europe and the Middle East. They led to political, economic and cultural changes, including the rise of trade routes and cities, the exchange of knowledge and technologies between cultures, but also conflicts and tensions between Christians and Muslims that continue to have an impact today. The Crusades also shaped relationships between various religious and cultural groups and are a significant event in the history of the Middle Ages and the relationship between Christianity and Islam.