At some time in history every culture, nation, and country hashad slaves. It is only within the past couple of hundred years thatcountries began to make slavery a crime. There are still a fewplaces in the world where slave markets exist and the ownership ofslaves is considered both normal and necessary.For example, the entire Bible assumes that owning slaves wasubiquitous. Several of Saint Paul's letters assume this and containadvice to Christian slave owners how to treat their slaves and/orto Christian slaves to respect their owners even if those ownerswere not Christians.