The document summarizes medicine and pharmacy in the Middle Ages from the 5th to 17th centuries. Key developments include the influence of alchemy on the fields, the establishment of independent pharmacies, the translation of Greek and other texts into Arabic which advanced science in the Arab world, and major figures like Avicenna who wrote the influential "Canon of Medicine" textbook. Monasteries helped preserve and advance Western knowledge through preparing herbal remedies and copying manuscripts. Universities also helped establish standards for medical education.