With the rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire increasing numbers of educated people converted to this new belief. As Christianity did not have its own educational institutions the issue of how to harmonize pagan education and Christian convictions became increasingly pressing. Karla Pollmann is the Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Bristol. Pollmann is a leading authority on the work of Augustine and a world-leader in the study of his influence across the ages. She has written widely on interdisciplinary projects combining Classics, Theology, Philosophy, Cultural History, Literature and Reception Studies.