@Elliptica Slavery at different points in time was considered an extension of natural hierarchies, in which one would have dominion over another, but still be morally accountable to God in their treatment of them. In our democratic age such notions of responsible leadership are foreign, and those in power feel entitled to do as much as they can with said power that they can get away with. That's one area in which the democratization of the world has not been entirely positive.