Final answer:
The Neolithic Revolution, specifically the adoption of agriculture and the domestication of animals, allowed civilizations to emerge by leading to larger populations, surpluses of food, and labor specialization. Agriculture also had a significant impact on religious practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major change that allowed civilizations to emerge was the Neolithic Revolution, specifically the adoption of agriculture and the domestication of animals. This shift from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to an agricultural one led to larger populations, surpluses of food, and labor specialization, which in turn restructured societies into hierarchical tiers. Agriculture also had a significant impact on religious practices, as it allowed for the emergence of highly defined priestly classes and more intricate religious beliefs focused on agricultural fertility.