I think the word you're looking for is "nation", not "country". A country is the land area and would be conquered in that example, while a nation is the more ab

I think the word you're looking for is "nation", not "country". A country is the land area and would be conquered in that example, while a nation is the more abstract entity made of the people. It's why it makes sense to talk about countries after the government falls, or nations without a country.