Final answer:
The use of fire and the discovery of agriculture are two of the most critical developments of early human civilization, enabling the transformation of materials and the stability and growth of food supply.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the most important discoveries of early humans was the use of fire to cook food, create pottery, and shape metal into tools. This discovery allowed our ancestors to change not only the shape but also the composition of substances, for example, transforming clay into pottery and grain into bread. The advent of agriculture, around 10,000 BCE, was another crucial milestone, as humans discovered how to cultivate crops and domesticate animals, greatly improving food availability and stability, which allowed for larger families and significant population growth. The creation and use of fire, alongside developments in agriculture, tool-making, and the eventual emergence of writing and ironworking, were fundamental achievements that dramatically transformed human civilization and laid the groundwork for future advancements.