Following the practical ethics of the Stoic period, the era of Christendom dominated Rome. The medieval period in philosophy wouldn't begin until 529 when Justinian I closed the Academy in Athens. Until that time, St. Aurelius Augustine (354–430) was the chief representative of “patristic” philosophy, so-called because it was a set of philosophical doctrines accepted by the Fathers of the early church. Patristic thought was preoccupied with “apologetics,” or defending Christian faith against the claims of secular philosophy. When a conflict arose between faith and reason, Augustine resolved the conflict in favor of faith.