An Isaac Asimov collection called “The Wonderful Worlds of Science Fiction - Intergalactic Empires I”

It covers some stories about Empires, that he quantifies as having a “rational historical backround” and says his Foundation series is the first to do so in 1942.

One of the stories is his own, and is Foundation adjacent, just takes place in his universe, it’s titled “Blind Alley”

Linky

After this it’s the next Star Wars book which is “Children of the Jedi”