I'm trying to understand the Spanish empire prior to the discovery of America - I'm not looking for a book length answer, just a broad summary like what would have been on a Wikipedia page at that time.
What was Spain's foreign policy, and what constrained that policy? I know that [Citation needed] Spain was engaged in a kind of a trade war with the Ottoman empire. How much did that affect the Spanish economy?
What was Spain's colonial strategy? How well was it working? What were the factors constraining Spain's colonies?
What were the major factors affecting the domestic agenda? How strong was the crown? Who were the allies and adversaries of the crown?
How likely was it that Spain would collapse, fractionate, or be invaded?
Yes, it is possible to write a book length answer, but I'm looking for the fundamentals that determined Spain's future - the advantages, adversaries and fault lines that would have determined Spain's options in the decade 1490 to 1500.
It is only possible to understand how much the discovery of America meant if I understand the Spanish empire without the discovery of America.
I'm well aware that the internet and Wikipedia weren't invented (which is why I used the subjunctive tense of the verb "would have".) The point was to clarify the level of detail sought so that the question wouldn't be closed as "too broad".
I guess I'm asking where was Spain headed at that time, had it not been Columbus's discovery that changed everything. What were the neighbors up to in relation to Spain, potential internal revolts, factions, etc.