I S T A N B U L
January newsletter
Reach
Four
Sea
at th sons Ista
e Bo
spho nbul
rus
FOR the
SUN
Discover your world: Istanbul 2013
Reach
FOR the
SUN
History of Istanbul
Let your senses soar and get flown away to a land of elegance, luxury and history.
Istanbul is truly a special destination due to its unique location. At the intersection of two continents, two cultures and
two seas it has served as a junction of important trade routes throughout the ages. Connecting the Black Sea and the Sea
of Marmara, the Bosporus divides the city between the continents of Europe and Asia.
For centuries Istanbul has been on the cusp of change. The history begins around 660 BC when it was established as
Byzantium on the European side of the Bosporus. Since then, Instanbul has served as the hub of the Roman, Byzantine,
Latin and Ottoman empires.
In the fourth century, Constantine – emperor of the Roman Empire - laid out plans for a new city called Constantinople,
the City of Constantine, to replace Byzantium. Just six years later Constantinople was proclaimed the capital of the
Byzantine Empire or Eastern Roman Empire. It was the largest, most populated and wealthiest city of its time.1
Constantinople began to decline in the thirteenth century and experienced a period of economic and political
volatility. In May 1453, after an eight-week siege, the ruler of the empire, Constantine XI, was killed. Sultan Mehmed II,
the Conqueror, captured Constantinople and declared it the new capital of the Ottoman Empire.2 Following the fall of
Constantinople, Mehmed II immediately set out to revitalize the city that is now known as Istanbul.
Today, Instanbul stands as a reflection of the various peoples and empires that have ruled its predecessors. Architecture,
art and culture have all been shaped by centuries past. This unique backdrop for Sun Life Financial’s Premier Partner
Conference allows you to experience the history of an ancient city while vacationing in a modern cultural metropolis.
Rays of Light
Participating whole life insurance can maximize tax-preferred cash values
Sun Par Protector and Sun Par Accumulator can help protect Canadians while helping them to reach their long-term
goals. Sun Par Protector and Sun Par Accumulator policies offer a wide range of features and options. Both products
can be tailored to meet a client’s unique needs to maximize protection for their family, build tax-preferred cash
values and increase their death benefit to keep pace with inflation. A policy can grow as needs change, depending on
the dividend option chosen. With Sun Life Financial, clients have confidence knowing their protection meets their
needs today and in the future.
Qualify today!
Istanbul 2013 qualification period: July 1, 2011- June 30, 2013
Barnes, Timothy David (1981). Constantine and Eusebius. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. ISBN 0674165314.
1
2
Gregory, Timothy E. (2010). A History of Byzantium. Oxford: John Wiley and Sons. ISBN 140518471X.
Life’s brighter under the sun
© Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2012.