In order to study the relations between Egypt and the other Great Powers, as well as the neighbouring petty kingdoms in the Levant, from the perspective of the written evidence, one has to keep in mind the type of text at our disposal, its original context, the audience, where it was written and what was its primary meaning. Only a detailed analysis of the material can provide us with more concrete data and a more detailed picture of the subject.
The main focus of this paper will be on some terms employed in the diplomatic relations and procedures attested both in ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern sources.