Question about diplomacy

[Phoenix Master]

I have the hardest time getting the other civs to trade with and like me. In fact two of them in the early game always seem to declare war on me for some reason. I want to know how to make a couple of friends especially in the early game.

 

[Buktu]

Send a delegation in the turn you meet a new civ (the likely wont accept it if you wait to send one) and trade for open borders to get positive diplo modifiers. You can also try to fulfill their agendas if possible or gift them stuff to increase their opinion on you.
If you play with the secret societies game mode you can also wait a little with your ss pick to match your neighbours.