Certain books are known to change the way people perceive the universe, and even the way they act. One book had a great influence on the world when it was published, the King James Bible. The King James Version of the Bible has helped shape the way many people think and write. Its history and importance are just as relevant today as they were when it was first written. The rich history behind the King James Bible is complex. “The King James Bible was commissioned in 1604 from the conference at Hampton Court, outside London” (Curtis). The time period in which it was written can provide insight into why someone decided to create this version of the Bible. "Thinking about this period one realizes that during this time life moved much more slowly than in today's world, something like the coronation of a monarch was a big event and affected the lives of each and the nation” (Curtis). After the death of Queen Elizabeth, James VI, known as James I to England, succeeded to the throne. As James was not from England at that time, he had to travel from Edinburgh to London for his coronation. “Because James was born under Presbyterian influences, the Puritans had reason to believe that James would help them in their cause of pursuing reform” (Curtis). But they were sorely mistaken. “When James was traveling to England, he was stopped by a group of Puritans who had outlined their grievances and the reforms they desired, known as the Millennium Petition” (Curtis). “This petition spoke of church services, ministers of the Church, life in the Church, and Church discipline” (Curtis). “The petition said nothing about a new translation of the Bible” (Curtis). "Taking seriously the demands of the Puritans, James called a conference...... middle of paper ......ns). The King James Bible, however, did not only affect writers, as scientists and political leaders also used it for their own benefit. “Scientists were amazed by the universe in this Bible. When Samuel Moore sent his first revolutionary telegraph message in 1844, he cited the King James English Book of Numbers” (Jenkins). Political leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, and other radical reformers used the language of the King James Bible to shape their own dreams of what they wanted in America (Jenkins). The importance of the King James Bible in this era can be demonstrated through the literary works and other influential people, in England and later in the United States. Many know the importance and history of the King James Bible from the time it was first written. but some may not know that it can still be relevant today.