Is there any information on how the diplomacy mechanics work?

That is, I am playing on challenging, getting down the ideas of getting cities going, leveling my heros, and so forth. I am ready with my army for any one neighbor to declare battle. But soon all three neighbors declare war within about 10 turns. I have had this now in three games in a row. I have tried to nurture relationships by offering tribute to the other two AIs (still at peace) after a first declares war. But the tributed AI's still declare war within just a few turns. 

So, is there some kind of information, strategy, or wikia on how to avoid mass AI declarations of war?