This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part begins with the more traditional narrative and examines the relationship between diplomacy and politics, there is a clear relation between diplomatic aspirations and political reality through the ongoing process of give and take, monitoring and acting, and watching and speaking just the surface. It presents a huge time frame, but breaks the narrative into three ‘transformations’ which form four distinct phases in economic history writ large, but more specifically, the story of economic diplomacy. The part highlights China as a particular example of the complex notions of power as he brings out the importance of trade and weaves it around and through other narratives of politics, war, and cultural exchange. It examines the traditional narrative and, in an effort to set culture into context, he offers few ‘signposts.’