The main objective of the Crusades, as initiated by Pope Urban II in 1095, was to reclaim the Holy Land, particularly Jerusalem, from Muslim control. The Crusades were framed as a religious war, appealing to Christian knights and nobles to take up arms to protect Christian pilgrims and reclaim sacred sites considered vital to Christianity. In addition to spiritual rewards, participants were promised indulgences for their sins. Over the following centuries, several Crusades took place, which not only aimed to regain territory but also resulted in significant cultural exchanges, influencing commerce, politics, and relations between Christians and Muslims.