Growth and dissolution eras The era classification in the History of the Ottoman Empire sidebox needs attention The growth era is between 1453 1683 This means that the Ottoman Empire continued to grow in the 17th century But it is not true To be sure Podolia and Crete were annexed But Anatolia the core of the empire was in ruins The empire was living the worst days as far as the public peace cultural life and economy are considered Vast areas in Caucasus and West Iran had been lost The barbary states were almost independent The reason the empire didn t disantegrate was the Thirty Years War in Europe The classical classification is better The growth era must end by the end of the 16th century either by the death of Sokullu Mehmet Pasha in 1579 or by the Peace of Zsitvatorok in 1606 The dissolution era between 1908 1922 is quite meaningless All Balkan countries except Albania and all African countries except Libya had already been lost by 1908 and the remainning territory was under the supervision of great powers of Europe So I think the decline and dissolution must be treated together