Ok I think it doesn't have to refer to just one part because obviously as most of you have mentioned it talks about many differnet nations or historical periods. My own opinion onnthis song is that it mostly connects to the diffrent governments and not so much a specific time, but gov't of all times. Now I'm sure if I was a history buff I could tell you how all this ties into older governments but I'm not and I can't do that cuz I'm just 14. And also like absinthe said it talks about all the change there is in the world and how things can turn on you so fast.