The Crusades were a series of military expeditions initiated by Western European Christians from the late 11th century to the late 13th century, aimed primarily at reclaiming Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Muslim rule. They began with the First Crusade (1096–1099), called by Pope Urban II in 1095, and involved several campaigns over the centuries with the broader goal of stopping Muslim expansion, recapturing formerly Christian territories, and ensuring Christian pilgrimages could continue safely. The Crusades were marked by violent conflict, religious zeal, and significant cross-cultural encounters between Christians and Muslims, as well as other groups. The Crusaders established several states in the Levant, but these were eventually lost by the late 13th century. Aside from the military campaigns in the Holy Land, there were also Crusades against other groups within Europe and against non- Christian peoples elsewhere.