[ik911]

Originally Posted by fable

It's too generic: one might as well say, whom do you like better, Marcus Aurelius or Adolf Hitler? Or rephrase it as Caligula, or Ghandi? We're speaking of hundreds of cultures in dozens of civilizations during any one of your sub-periods. Appealing becomes impossible to tell on such a macro scale.

Oh, no, you're wrong. It is possible and all it needs is macroscaling. You are dealing with thousands of souls, some of which were thieves, others were heroes. They are or are not important as a group or a ratio. That is up to you.
It is not a question of which time period was objectively and unquestionably the best, or had the lowest tax rate or the bravest leader. It isn't even about choosing which time period quantatively has the most positive facts. No, it's about your impression. Your opinion. And it does mean you'll have to generalize. Do it sans-gêne. Throw your scientific grip away and imagine. Yes, that exactly it: form a picture. A simplified, summarized kodak-picture of every period and decide which you like best. What's on the picture: you decide.

Or just choose a sub-period and/or culture.

Or don't. I'm not forcing you, ofcourse. However, I am interested. Not because your choice will fill my head with knowledge, but out of sheer interest, pure and simple.