This pamphlet is the third in a series of guides developed to help college and high school teachers incorporate information about Inner Asia into their courses. A discussion of the diplomatic tradition of Inner Asia is presented. The author documents a strong political tradition that made possession of the Orkhon valley in the steppe region necessary for imperial leadership. Inner Asian imperial clans acquired the valley through a confederation process, convinced the neighboring Chinese that the clans were a threat, and tried to live in urban luxury by offering China peace in exchange for civilized goods. Common soldiers and lesser clans frequently forced changes in the imperial leadership that brought benefits of the diplomatic policy to new groups. The author believes this policy of diplomacy toward China provides a unifying theme for the study of Inner Asia and helps dispel the stereotype of the savage, nomadic barbarians of Inner Asia. A bibliographic note cites several books which describe eighth century A.D. Chinese political policy toward the steppe clans, and 13th century living conditions in the Mongol capital. (Author/AV)