The main purpose of the Crusades during the Middle Ages was to reclaim Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Muslim control. Initiated in 1095 by Pope Urban II, these military campaigns aimed to provide Christian pilgrims access to sacred sites and to assert Christian dominance over regions deemed essential to Christianity. The Crusades also had economic, political, and social motivations, including the desire for territorial expansion and the unification of Christendom. While the Crusades did achieve temporary successes, they ultimately led to long-term conflicts and significant cultural exchanges between Christians and Muslims.