Rome
Mine · 8 works
This is very republic heavy, especially the late republic. I don't necessarily think the late republic is more interesting or important than the foundation of the republic, but we do have far more good sources on the late republic & early empire. Any of the Plutarch biographies can be read in a couple of hours, and those that have survived antiquity are all readily available online in good translations. Sallust's The War With Cataline is also readable in one sitting and is tremendous fun. If you do decide to jump in with these ancient sources, you will find you lack a lot of context. I think you just have to roll with it.