What was the main goal of the Christian Crusades?

The primary objective of the Christian Crusades was to reclaim the Holy Land, specifically Jerusalem, which had come under Muslim control. Initiated in the late 11th century, the Crusades were a response to calls from the Papacy to retake territories that Christians considered sacred. The motivation was deeply rooted in religious fervor, and participants aimed to recover sites of significant importance to Christianity, including those linked to the life of Jesus Christ.

The context of the Crusades also involved the desire to unite Christendom against a common adversary and to gain spiritual rewards, such as the idea that participating could lead to salvation. While trade routes and territorial expansion were secondary outcomes or considerations, they did not represent the core goal of the Crusades. The campaigns involved a fervent commitment to combat perceived threats to Christianity and to assert control over the religiously significant locations in the Holy Land.