Background: In modern history we were learning about Australia's past surrounding racism and the Aborigines. Many of the text books were boasting about the Aborigines being the first civilization dating back 80,000 years. However I was of the opinion that to be a civilization you must have permanent structures/society like Mesopotamia. How do Historians classify this sort of thing?
May I suggest looking at these two weblinks to similar answers posted in AskHistorians, link1 link2.
The term civilisation is loaded with a historical, prejudice and elitist afterthought; what makes you civilised and what is then savage? Is one better then the other or are there more appropriate terms that can be used such as culture, society or even social group? The answer is contensious and not as clear cut as here is a list. The two links at the start should pose some opposing thoughts the the list by J.R.Baker.