Any civilizations with advanced enough astronomy gained practical advantages, too. A calendar, based on the regular patterns of the Sun, the Moon, and the stars, is essential if you want to be successful at agriculture in temperate climates. Astronomy gives you navigation, too -- not only at sea (the Polynesians being the most amazing example), but being able to tell which way is north at night may well be an advantage if you wanted to hunt or wage a battle at night.
