Black pepper is one of the most widely used spices in the world.While it is one of the few spices nearly everyone uses with at least some regularity, most of us dont stop to consider how this popular spice came to be passed around our tables today. This particular spice has been one of the most widely traded in the world, dating all the way back to ancient times. It was once reserved for the wealthy, commanding rich prices in terms of its value on the world trade market.