The Ottoman Empire was a state that controlled much of Southeast Europe, Western Asia and North Africa between the 14th and early 20th centuries. The empire later evolved in the what we now know as Turkey. The Ottoman Empire reached its height during the 16th and 17th centuries under Suleiman the Magnificent. However, it also came under strain due to inflation and the high costs of warfare. Around the year 1600, these issues began causing problems to the Ottoman government, leading to a period of decline.