diplomatic protocols and negotiation rules in the shahnameh

diplomacy is an institution as old as the state; and diplomats have always been alongside rulers. for most people, politics and diplomacy is a mysterious realm, full of astonishing rewards. in the common perception, politicians and diplomats were often seen as shrewd, ruthless, planner and sometimes just characters. diplomacy was also considered as a technique which did not comply with fixed rules. diplomats seldom wrote about their profession. the shahnameh is a narration of iranian rule from the beginning of their history until the fall of the sassanid. a search in the shahnameh reveals certain rules and features of diplomacy in ancient iran. the main question in this study is: what were the characteristics of diplomatic and negotiation rules in ancient iran? in response to this question, it is argued that due to the experimental nature of diplomacy, its rules and attributes have remained constant during the time. the etiquette of diplomacy and negotiation, however, has changed. rereading the shahnameh, which is the research method used in this paper, points to this conclusion.