Continent maps can be very challenging, especially, if you work toward a domination victory. If forces you to plan an execute at least one invasion across the ocean, which means you have to consider a Navy to protect your forces. The 1UPT makes it particularly interesting and difficult. I play continents maps for this purpose sometimes.
I think default (water level) pangea is not that different from continents as far as reaching opponents to capture their capitals in the end game. Sometimes you can make it over land on pangea, but often you have to launch a mass ocean attack. Certainly it is different as far as early contact and making RA's, selling open borders, etc.
To another post though, the AI remains fairly inept. I've never seen it attack across a body of water.
I think for this reason, pangea is the great equalizer, until the naval intelligence of the AI is fixed. Regarding whether pangea is easier or not, I think cases can be made either way. I think of it more a style of play. If you are playing for domination, then I think it's more fun on pangea. All together on one big continent.
If one is not playing for domination, e.g., isolated builder, then continents may be the the way to go. The hybrid case, i.e., builder/warmonger, can go either way.
Having said that, in at least one previous version of Civ (with stacked units), I have seen large naval attacks with land units that threatened my homeland. Not yet in Civ V. So, until this is improved, pangea seems to be the best equalizer.
