What are the two legs of the Roman Empire and where were their capitals?
The two legs of the Roman Empire were the East and the West. The Eastern Empire was capitalized in Constantinople, while the Western Empire remained at Rome. This division fulfilled the divided kingdom pictured by the feet and toes, part iron and part clay.
Les explains that after the absolute power of one and the consensuses of two and four, the Roman Empire comes on the scene. Though Rome is normally thought of as governed by the Caesars, it was in reality a republic depending on its senate and representatives, the seeds of democracy. Its two legs were the East and the West: the East was capitalized in Constantinople, and the West stayed at Rome. In the text of verses 41-43, the feet and toes, part potter’s clay and part iron, picture a divided kingdom, East and West, partly strong and partly broken, with no real strength because of that admixture. Les also notes the Roman Empire passed off the scene between 300 and 400 A.D.