Science and the Scientific Method and all it entails. With science comes the Internet, Modern Medicine, Electricity, Food, Weapons, Transportation, and nearly everything in this modern world.
Writing meaning we can share ideas with others. A historical document that can be handed down for hundreds of years to the next generation to learn and improve on the lives of those that lived before.
Currency. It makes trading a whole lot easier when you put a price on an item instead of trading items for items. Life is just a bit easier.
Lol. *shrugs*