Successes

Conquest of Syria and Egypt by Selim I (1517). Empire now has a Muslim population majority.

Conquest of Hungary (and surrounding areas in Central Europe), Iraq, and Libya by Suleyman I (1520-1566) but failure to capture Vienna(1529).

Setbacks

Ban of the Printing Press (1485)

Safavid dynasty makes Shi'a the official religion in Persia to oppose Sunni Ottomans (circa 1510)

Defeat in the Naval Battle of Lepanto (1571)

1568: Sons of Janissaries can join the corps. Within a few decades the nature of Janissaries has changed and they prove to be a source of trouble.

1574: Upon becoming sultan Murad III has all his younger nine brothers killed.

Sequence of weak sultans leave the ruling of the empire to the Harem (and the black eunuchs)
  1622: Sultan Osman II assassinated by Janissaries.
  1648 Sultan Ibrahim I strangled (coup led by Grand Mufti).

Firearms increased the importance of infantry over cavalry (the strength of the Asian people)

Long war with Venice (1648-1669). Ottomans captured Crete.

1683: Failure of the Second Siege of Vienna (Ottomans led by Grand Vizier Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa pasha) - As a consequence, loss of Hungary (1699) - Treaty of Karlowitz.

1730: Sultan Ahmet III deposed by Janissaries.

1783: Loss of Crimea to Russia. Black Sea no longer an Ottoman lake,

1787-1792: New war and more losses to Russia - Treaty of Jassy.

1789-1807: Reign of Selim III and attempts at reform. Failure of the reforms of the "New Order" and assassination of the sultan.