And who wiped out the Ottomans?
The Mamluks obviously
Somehow I think someone else was indirectly responsible for their demise.
Anyway here's an example of some classic mistakes (not) to make while learning the game. Here's three easy steps how to make your life miserable as Venice.
1. Don't ally France
2. Don't crush The Ottomans
3. Fight Austria to a standstill
Result:
Basically, every war I start somehow ends up dragging in Austria and then we fight each other until we both run out of manpower/cash/will to fight. Meanwhile the Ottomans are eating up everything and France is steadily blobbing. Also I failed to support Poland in the early game so they are slowly getting gobbled up by Russia (former Muscovy) and Crimea. Now it's just a matter of time before Spain and France (ridiculous choice of allies, I know, but there was nobody else) go to war with each other and I get eaten by the mean Ottoman war machine.