Characteristics of Continental States

Generally continental and maritime states are a distinction made in Europe

It is generally considered that Britain, the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands are maritime states, and that France, Germany, and Russia are continental states

Continental states have strong land forces and relatively weak navies. The exploitation of the colonies was relatively strict

Maritime countries seldom had large standing armies and strong navies. Exploitation of colonies was relatively easy.

Derived from the continental countries, the continental countries because of the strong land forces, able to suppress the people, so it is easy to have a centralized rule (the late French Revolution, World War II Germany and the Soviet Union). Continental countries have relatively weak navies, so it is difficult to control sea power and become the world's hegemon in free trade.

This concept is rarely used nowadays