The Ottoman Empire controlled Anatolia, most of the Middle East, North Africa and the Balkans from the mid 16th century onwards.
ðɪ ˈɑːɾəmən ˈɛmpaɪɚ kəntɹˈoʊld ˌænɐtˈoʊliə, mˈoʊst əv ðə mˈɪdəl ˈiːst, nˈɔːɹθ ˈæfɹɪkə ænd ðə bˈɔːlkənz fɹʌmðə mˈɪd sˈɪkstiːnθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi ˈɑːnwɚdz.