Does perception precede reality; and is reality made up of our thoughts?

Answer 1

Imho, no and no.

In order for perception to occur, there must be a perceiver. The perceiver must exist in reality logically prior to the perception, and hence reality exists first.

If reality were made up of our thoughts, there would have been no reality 50 million years ago, which is obviously absurd, so we ought to abandon that prospect.