The Greeks and Romans we are finding out were much more advanced than thought, even for those societies. A couple of small twists in history and we would have had the industrial revolution about 1500 years earlier.
All the Roman Empire needed was a banking system, a postal system, and universal compulsory education, and they’d be running Europe and the Mediterranean basin to this day. :’)
Those interested can find more on FR, look for the Nemi Ship of Caligula, or Tamil Trade — either topic has more links.