Religion has had a major impact on the development of early civilization.
The first civilizations were able to get off the ground because people believed in gods and goddesses, who then intervened in human affairs. The idea that these deities could help humans was what motivated people to build great cities and create new technologies, like writing.
In addition to motivating people to work together, religion also provided a way for them to feel connected to each other. When people were united by a common belief system, they felt like they belonged together and had something in common with each other. This sense of unity helped them work together to build their civilizations.