when were the crusades

The Crusades were a series of religious wars that took place primarily between 1095 and 1291. The First Crusade was launched in 1096 and lasted until 1099. There were at least eight major Crusades, with the last one occurring in 1270. These Crusades were aimed mainly at reclaiming Jerusalem and other holy lands from Muslim control, beginning with Pope Urban II's call to arms in 1095 at the Council of Clermont. In addition to these primary campaigns, there were also smaller Crusades, such as those against dissident Christian sects within Europe. The overall period of the Crusades spans from the call in 1095 until the fall of Acre in 1291, marking the end of major Crusader presence in the Holy Land.