For many its the Roman empire or the Greeks. Similarly ancient Egypt. Or the British empire. Maybe the Japanese, Chinese and Norse as the next 3.
I have deliberately not mentioned time periods there.
These are the most commonly beloved. What are your favourites and why?
My neighborhood museum had a special exhibit about this a few years back. It was fascinating. Have you read about this? https://news.artnet.com/art-world/enheduanna-first-author-mesopotamian-women-morgan-library-2208775