The primary motivation for the Crusades, a series of religious wars initiated in the late 11th century, was to reclaim Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Muslim control. Christians in Europe felt a deep religious obligation to retake these sacred sites, which were culturally and spiritually significant. The Crusades were also influenced by a desire for economic gain, land acquisition, and the promotion of knightly values. Over the centuries, they led to significant consequences for Christian-Muslim relations and had long-lasting impacts on European and Middle Eastern history.