A comprehensive history that focuses on the crises of Spain in the late middle ages and the early transformations that underpinned the later successes of the Catholic Monarchs. * Illuminates Spain's history from the early fourteenth century to the union of the Crowns of Castile and Aragon in 1474 * Examines the challenges and reforms of the social, economic, political, and cultural structures of the country * Looks at the early transformations that readied Spain for the future opportunities and challenges of the early modern Age of Discovery * Includes a helpful bibliography to direct the reader toward further study