Cristianizzazione e reti connettive nelle Alpi tardoantiche

The great roads towards the Alpine passes built by the Romans enabled the full integration of the Alps into the administrative and economic system of the empire, leading to an enormous increase in traffic and mobility. The major roads and a dense network of minor routes combined to form an integrated system for long- and short- distance connections, which continued to function into Late Antiquity. The spread of Christianity progressed along major roads, first and foremost the “great road to Gaul”, which crossed the entire Po Valley and connected it with all the Alpine passes; the Christianisation of the northern Italian cities proceeded from east to west along its route, and found its main driving force in Ambrose, the bishop of Milan. To him we owe a plan for the evangelisation of the Alpine area that was slowed down and delayed by the strong resistance of a paganism that was still deeply rooted and widespread.