The early civilizations appeared in locations/times when there was an abundance of food, allowing people the time to specialize, creating the first professions. Tradesmen seems to have gathered around various religious sites, creating the first permanent settlements. The need to defend those settlements resulted in fortifications. Fortifications, and the safety they provided, attracted more people and the first cities slowly took form.
There's a lot of nice things to say about Norway, but 9k years ago life there was harsh, and it was -- like the rest of the Arctic -- inhabited by hunter/gatherers, if at all.
Civilization is mostly defined by the presence of urban-like settlements, and the ancient Norse were not urbanized for a long time. This is not to say that they lacked complex skills, however. But we have to judge that via complex circumstantial evidence, whereas the case for the Levant is much easier to make.
However I dont understand why civilisation thus started and grew in Egypt / Babylon and not in say Norway.
If someone has any any ideas as to why specifically do let me know, I havent hard time to read the rest of the comments so please take this with a pinch of salt.