Which best describes a classical period in history? A. a period that predates modern musical forms B. a period of great achievements in art, science, religion, philosophy, and politics C. the period in any culture before written records were kept D. a period of imperial expansion and colonization

The term "classical" means "of greater fullness" or "model worthy of imitation," and its use to designate a historical period is markedly admiring, from a later idealized view of the time and its influence on the conformation of civilization. It was used for the first time during the Renaissance when modern humanists and philosophers looked back at the cultural, political, and scientific achievements of the ancient Greeks and Romans. In modern Historiography, it is used to designate a period of great achievements in art, science, religion, philosophy, and politics of any civilization in the world. For example, Historians talk about the "classical period" of Mesoamerica or the classical period of Hinduism or Islam.