Quote Originally Posted by SigniferOne
in literature:
-formalized philosophy
-formalized oratory
-formalized grammar
-formalized architecture
-formalized algebra and geometry
-formalized engineering
-formalized medicine

in art:
-fully formed ideal of man
-fully formed sculptural technique

in government:
-fully formed free government
-a fully developed bureaucracy and compendious administration
-national hatred for self-submission
-distrust and constant replacement of politicians
-politicians, people administering by choice and subject to check

in philosophy:
-fully formed notion of virtue
-fully formed view of reason and emotion
-fully formed view of pleasure
-fully formed view of personal happiness
-fully formed guide to life
And we have a winner! ...
Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
Ancient China
.

Oh, before you start aguing against it, all of philosophy, all of government, all of lterature and all of art applies just as much, or even more to China in those days than to any state whatsoever in 'Europe'.

There's just one exception, and that is the brief Ch'in dynasty - and then we're mostly talking about the first and only real Emperor. Granted Chinese kings or emperors didn't really submit to the judge or people like some Celtic kings appear to have done - but neither did the Roman emperors, or the Diadochi kings / emperors, now did they?