I have in my possession a very interesting Academic Paper that compares both the architecture and the political systems of 2nd c Ephesus and 15th c Florence.

What could these places – well over a thousand years apart – have in common?

I quote :

In each city, these statements relied on interplay between a native tradition of populist self-government
and architectural conventions associated with an external imperial power.

Mmmn. An External Imperial Power. Who could that be, me wonders ? :o)