a state with primarily maritime realms, an empire at sea (such as the Phoenician network of merchant cities) or a seaborne empire.[1] Traditional thalassocracies seldom dominate interiors, even in their home territories. Examples of this are Phoenician Tyre, Sidon, and Carthage, or Srivijaya and Majapahit in Southeast Asia.

Source: Thalassocracy – Wikipedia