Mexico

Before the Spanish Empire conquered and colonized, Mexico was home to many Mesoamerican civilizations such as the Olmec, Mayans, and Aztec. In the Mexican War for Independence in 1821, Mexico gained its independence from Spain and adopted the name that we know today, Mexico. The Mexican-American War established the land boundaries and in 1910 the dictatorship of Mexico was overthrown ushering in its current political system. Today, Mexico is classified as an upper-middle income country by the World Bank and has the 15^th largest nominal GDP. Mexico’s economy thrives on food and beverage industries as well as the production of tobacco. It’s largest industry however is tourism, and in 2016 it was the eighth-most visited country in the world.