Another history junkie here. If time machines were a thing, my first choice in places/times to visit would be Justinian's Byzantium - in spite of the ongoing plagues (hey, I'd bring tetracycline). I can't think of a more interesting time period, excepting possibly the decade before the fall of the Bronze age or the post-WWII Cold War (which I lived through, no time machine required).

BTW, well written article, you hit the main points in an entertaining way - thanks!