The modern-day layout of territory is the result of the construction and other projects that have followed one another over time. In the course of this long history, two moments stand out as particularly significant: the Roman Era and the com-munal period. In both phases, in fact, a governing power was centralized in such a way as to manage the territories that fell within its ambit. Significant differences exist between Roman Era and medieval projects, however; these are neither entirely nor exclusively technical but rather reflect land-use policies. Consequently, the interchangeable use of the terms “planning” and “management” for both periods and for the vast range of land-use and architectural projects is incorrect. What becomes necessary instead is a reflection upon the meaning of these two terms and a determination, on the basis of careful analysis of the characteristics of Roman Era and medieval building projects, regarding when it is appropriate to speak of planning and when management is the more correct term.