Why are ancient Athens and Rome called "classical"?

Question

What is the origin of the word 'classical'? Is it anything to do with 'class'? And why is it applied to these particular societies in preference to older ones such as Minoan Crete and Pharaonic Egypt, to later ones such as the Hellenistic period in Greece, or to more northerly ones such as the La Tene Celtic civilisation?

Answer 1

It refers to the architecture.

This style of architecture came back in the 18th century and had parallels in music. Hence the reason why music from 1750-1800 is called classical music.

Answer 2

The term classical is used because the cultures still exist today, so when mention Greek culture, plays, music, or Architecture you are referring to modern Greek culture, etc or when classical Greek culture one is referring to the Greek culture the existed from 1000 to 250 BC.
The same with Rome although the term really does not apply because the Italian culture of today can only very loosely be compared to that of Rome.
Another classical reference is used when referring to the beginning of the classical period when stories and history were being recorded in writing. IE Homer's Iliad.

Answer 3

for sure the respond must be Rome for quantity of territory won and controlled plus sturdiness of administration. Athens comes nowhere close to to the cost of the Roman empire which lasted many centuries (just about 1000 years reckoning on the way it rather is reckoned) and persisted interior the east via fact the Byzantine empire after the so called 476AD fall of Rome.

Answer 4

Because "classical " represents eternity which truth, beauty and goodness that will never die.