Which skills and practices were important in the growth of early civilizations?

The skill that was mostly responsible for the start of early civilizations was the art of growing crops. When people developed that skill, they changed from nomadic hunters/gatherers into people who settled down somewhere.

With crops that could feed more people than only those who grew the crops themselves, people could make themselves free to develop other skills, like Arts and Crafts. The ability to make pottery became essential as there were now surplus foodstuffs that had to be stored and distributed. As communities became larger, communication - other than oral - became essential and led to forms of writing like cuneiform and hieroglyphs. Writers were held in high regard. Skills like tool making, building, cattle breeding became important and for the community's safety the skill of professional soldiering evolved. And as early civilization communities developed further, tools of trade and shipbuilding became important.