The Great Powers' Diplomacy Of The Near East In The Amarna Tablets

Based on the AmarnaTablets, this dissertation will discuss the diplomacyof great powersof the Near East duringthe Amarna Age, and concentrate on diplomatic practices, diplomaticrules,anddiplomaticcultures.During theAmarnaAge,itisevidentthatsome greatpowersexist. Duringtheformerpartof this period, the great powers are Egypt, Mitanni, and Babylon, and duringthe later part ofthe period, Egypt, Hittite, Babylon, and Assyria. With the rise of Hittite and Assyria, thestructureofpoliticsis changedfromthreepolartofourpolar. Insuchatransformation,amongthe great powers, Hittite and Assyria are the impetuses. There are three triangle zones ofdiplomacy: that of Egypt, Mitanni, and Hittite;that of Egypt, Babylon, and Assyria;that ofEgypt, Assyria, and Hittite. In all three triangle diplomatic zones, Egyptian policy is thebalanceofpowers. Inordertoimprovestatus, HittiteandAssyria, takegreatefforttopromotetheirrelations withotherpowers, especiallyEgypt.BabylonandMitanni, focustheirattentiononthe actionsoftheirenemy,AssyriaandHittite,andmakeaneffortto restrictthem.There are some customs thatgovern the relations among great powersduring the AmarnaAge. Firstly, there are two main types of rules: rules of family and rules of reciprocity.According to rules of family, their relationship of the great powers is shaped by kinship. Onthe basis of rules of reciprocity, the great powers pursing interests will get the same yields.Secondly, there are three basic diplomatic modes: gift exchange, Diplomatic marriage, andmessage communication. Thirdly, some rules are created in the envoys'coming and going.There is evident of a doctrine of diplomatic privilege of envoys. Lastly, the establishment,interruption, reestablishment, and renewal of diplomatic relations, are available at Amarnatime. As to peoples residing abroad, the foreign states provide diplomatic protection.Diplomatic rituals exist, for example, the festival of the coming of foreign envoys, andpouringoilontheheadofprincess.The difference among cultures willincrease diplomatic cost. It can hinder the relations ofthegreatpowers. Fist,theideaofdivinekingshiphaveclashwithrulesofreciprocity.Second,the opinion of center-periphery has some negative influences on the diplomatic mode. TheEgyptiancultureis differentfromthatofwesternAsiastates.IncomparisonwithwesternAsia,the degree of Egyptian divine Kingship is very high, so there have some collisions betweenthe opinion of divine kingship and rules of reciprocity. Center-periphery idea is stronger inEgypt than in western Asia, so in diplomatic activities, there are a gap between Egypt'sextremeopinionandreciprocityopinionofwesternAsia.