Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Chronological list of selected Roman emperors (early third to early seventh century)
- Chronological list of Sasanian kings (220s–628)
- Map 1 The Middle East in late antiquity
- Map 2 Northern Mesopotamia and adjacent regions
- Map 3 The middle and lower Danube and adjacent regions
- Map 4 The Rhine and upper Danube and adjacent regions
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- PART I CONTEXTS
- PART II INFORMATION AND UNCERTAINTY
- PART III SOURCES OF INFORMATION
- 5 Diffusion of information
- 6 Information-gathering
- Select bibliography
- Index of sources
- General index
6 - Information-gathering
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 September 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Chronological list of selected Roman emperors (early third to early seventh century)
- Chronological list of Sasanian kings (220s–628)
- Map 1 The Middle East in late antiquity
- Map 2 Northern Mesopotamia and adjacent regions
- Map 3 The middle and lower Danube and adjacent regions
- Map 4 The Rhine and upper Danube and adjacent regions
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- PART I CONTEXTS
- PART II INFORMATION AND UNCERTAINTY
- PART III SOURCES OF INFORMATION
- 5 Diffusion of information
- 6 Information-gathering
- Select bibliography
- Index of sources
- General index
Summary
EMBASSIES
although spies are the agency which no doubt springs most readily to mind in the context of information-gathering, embassies could also make a major contribution in this area. This is a point made very effectively in the Siasset-namah, or ‘Book of Government’, composed in the eleventh century by an Arab official, but drawing on sources from the Sasanian period. It is worth quoting at length:
It should be realised that when kings send ambassadors to one another, their purpose is not merely the message or the letter which they communicate openly, but secretly they have a hundred other points and objects in view. In fact they want to know about the state of the roads, mountain passes, rivers and grazing-grounds, to see whether an army can pass or not; where fodder is available and where not; which are the officers in every place; what is the size of the king's army, and how well it is armed and equipped; what is the standard of his table and company; what is the organisation and etiquette of his court and audience-hall; does he play polo and hunt; what are his qualities and manners, his designs and intentions, his appearance and bearing; is he cruel or just, old or young; is his country flourishing or decaying; are his troops contented or not; are his peasants rich or poor; is he avaricious or generous; is he alert or negligent in his affairs; is his chamberlain competent or the reverse, of good faith and high principles, or of impure faith and bad principles; […]
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Information and FrontiersRoman Foreign Relations in Late Antiquity, pp. 166 - 184Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1993
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