Throughout history, crime has existed in many different forms and has been committed by not only individuals, but by groups as well. Crime exists as a part of the economic institution and is a lifestyle for many people.
Crime also exists in both organized and un organized forms.
In the ninth century, Sicily was occupied by Arab forces. The native Sicilians were oppressed and took refuge in the surrounding hills. The Sicilians formed a secret society to unite the natives against the Arab and Norman invaders. This secret society was called Mafia after the Arabic word for refuge. The society's intentions were to create a sense of family based on ancestry and Sicilian heritage.