Crusade

A Crusade was a series of religious wars initiated by European Christians between the 11th and 13th centuries, primarily aimed at reclaiming the Holy Land from Muslim rule. These military campaigns were driven by religious devotion, political motives, and the desire to recover sacred sites. Crusades involved knights, soldiers, and volunteers traveling long distances to fight, often with the support of the Church. While they aimed to protect Christian interests, they also impacted wider politics, trade, and cultural exchanges in medieval Europe and the Middle East.