The long-term impact of the Crusades on European and Middle Eastern relations was profound, leading to a complex legacy of cultural exchange, conflict, and mistrust. Initiated in the 11th century, the Crusades were military campaigns aimed at reclaiming the Holy Land from Muslim control. While they failed to achieve their primary objective, they facilitated trade and intellectual exchange between Europe and the Middle East, helping to stimulate the European Renaissance. However, the Crusades also fostered lasting hostility, contributing to a cultural divide between Christians and Muslims that persisted for centuries, influencing subsequent geopolitical dynamics.