How important is it to consider the history of Northern Africa the Middle East

How important is it to consider the history of Northern Africa the Middle East

PART A:
Option 1
After the Viking, Magyar, and Muslim invasions, many parts of Europe saw the creation of new systems of hierarchy and dependency, both in rural areas (often referred to as the feudal system) as well as in towns/cities. What were some of the reasons for the emergence of both the feudal system and the commercial system of guilds in medieval towns and villages? How did those systems contribute to general stability in the early medieval period, at least compared to the volatility of the preceding centuries?
For this topic, you don’t need to strictly compare/contrast the two systems. I am simply looking to see that you can discuss the general organization of medieval society both on the village and the city/town level.

Option 2
During the 12th and 13th centuries, the Church faced opposition both from within and outside, as the period saw the emergence of numerous heretical movements and popes battled kings for temporal dominion in Europe. What were some of those criticisms about and how did the Church react to them? Do you think that the Church emerged from those criticisms weakened or strengthened? Please offer specific examples to support your argument your argument/s.
For this essay, be sure to include both calls for reform within the church as well as the outside struggle with the rulers of Europe. As always with historical essays, keeping things as close to chronological order as possible is a good idea.

PART B:
Option 3
Is it important to understand the works of Greek and Roman thinkers in order to understand the intellectual achievements of the Late Middle Ages, The Renaissance or the Early Modern period in European history? Are some works more important than others? Would these later achievements have been possible without knowledge of the Greeks or the Romans?
For this topic, be sure to include examples from each of the three periods listed in the question.

Option 4
European society changed drastically from the 14th and through the 16th centuries. What were the central changes or ideas that contributed to the generally rapid social changes of the period? What were some of the main contributing factors to the rapid population increase of the period and what factors contributed to a general rise in prosperity among the middle classes but also some of the peasant populations?
Please keep in mind that for this question I want you to look at society in general, meaning that I don’t want you to focus on kings, popes, or people in power.

Option 5
How important is it to consider the history of Northern Africa, the Middle East, or even the world as a whole when thinking about the history of Europe from the Middle Ages to the Early Modern Period? Is it possible to teach or discuss European history without taking into account developments in the rest of the world? Offer at least three examples of why not, or if you feel the opposite, why is it possible?
For this question, please try to offer examples that span the period from the Late Middle Ages to the Early Modern period.