Published in 1992, William L. Moran's definitive English translation, The Amarna Letters, raised as many questions as it answered. How did Pharaoh run his empire? Why did the god-king consent to deal with his fellow, mortal monarchs as equals? Indeed, why did kings engage in diplomacy at all? How did the great powers maintain international peace and order? In Amarna Diplomacy, Raymond Cohen and Raymond Westbrook have brought together a team of specialists, both social scientists and ancient historians, to explore the world of ancient Near Eastern statecraft portrayed in the letters. Subjects discussed include Egyptian imperial and foreign policy, international law and trade, geopolitics and decision making, intelligence, and diplomacy. This book will be of interest to scholars not only of the ancient Near East and the Bible but also of international relations and diplomatic studies. Contributors are Pinhas Artzi, Kevin Avruch, Geoffrey Berridge, Betsy M. Bryan, Raymond Cohen, Steven R. David, Daniel Druckman, Serdar Güner, Alan James, Christer Jönsson, Mario Liverani, Samuel A. Meier, William J. Murnane, Nadav Na'aman, Rodolfo Ragionieri, Raymond Westbrook, and Carlo Zaccagnini.
Contents: Preface List of Abbreviations Table of Events1. Intruction: The Amarna System RAYMOND COHEN AND RAYMOND WESTBROOKI. The International System2. The Great Power's Club MARIO LIVERANI 3. International Law in the Amarna Age RAYMOND WESTBROOK 4. The Amarna Age: An International Society in the Making RODOLFO RAGIONIERI 5. Realism, Contructivism, and the Amarna Letters STEVEN R. DAVIDII. Foreign Policy6. The Egyptian Perspective on Mittani BETSY M. BRYAN 7. Intelligence in the Amarna Letters RAYMOND COHENIII. Imperial Policy8. Imperial Egypt and the Limits of Power WILLIAM J. MURANE 9. Egypt and Her Vassals: The Geopolitical Dimension ALAN JAMES 10. The Egyptian-Canaanite Correspondence NADAV NA'AMANIV. International Transactions11. The Interdependence of the Great Powers CARLO ZACCAGNINI 12. Reciprocity, Equality, and Status-Anxiety in the Amarna Letters KEVIN AVRUCH 13. Diplomacy and International Marriages SAMUEL A. MEIER 14. A Social-Psychological Analysis of Amarna Diplomacy DANIEL DRUCKMAN AND SERDAR GÜNERV. Diplomacy15. Diplomatic Signaling in the Amarna Letters CHRSITER JÖNSSON 16. The Diplomatic Service in Action: The Mittani File PINHAS ARTZI 17. Amarna Diplomacy: A Full-fledged Diplomatic System? GEOFFREY BERRIDGE 18. Conclusion: The Beginnings of International Relations RAYMOND COHEN AND RAYMOND WESTBROOKNotes Bibliography Contributors Index of Terms and Proper Names Index of Sources General Index
""This is an important volume for any scholar of the ancient Near East.""
