# Continental System — WHE Definition Discussion (1-22110) **URL:** \ **Category:** WHE Articles\ **Created:** [August 3, 2023, 3:53pm UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/continental-system-whe-definition-discussion-1-22110/17163 "2023-08-03T15:53:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![harrisonwmark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/community.worldhistory.org/harrisonwmark/32/186_2.png) [@harrisonwmark](https://community.worldhistory.org/u/harrisonwmark)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 3:53pm UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/continental-system-whe-definition-discussion-1-22110/17163/1 "2023-08-03T15:53:13Z")
The Continental System was a major blockade of British trade imposed by French Emperor Napoleon I from 21 November 1806 to 11 April 1814. It was designed to cripple the British economy, thereby forcing Britain out of the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815). However, the blockade proved difficult to enforce and ended up negatively affecting France, contributing to Napoleon's eventual downfall. * * * _This is a companion discussion topic for the original definition at [https://www.worldhistory.org/Continental\_System/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Continental_System/)._ * * * **Join the Conversation** - What would you like to know more about? - If you've studied this topic, what would you add for other readers? - Anything here you'd push back on? Is there anything you'd like to ask about this definition? Ask away — and if you spot something that should be covered, that's useful to know too. ---
**Author:** ![harrisonwmark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/community.worldhistory.org/harrisonwmark/32/186_2.png) [@harrisonwmark](https://community.worldhistory.org/u/harrisonwmark)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2026, 2:40pm UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/continental-system-whe-definition-discussion-1-22110/17163/2 "2026-07-31T14:40:46Z")