Step 7 of 54

7. Sikhism

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Type: Monotheistic religion founded in the Punjab region (modern India/Pakistan) ~1500 CE by Guru Nanak
Core text: Guru Granth Sahib
Central teachings: One God, equality of all people, rejection of caste, service to humanity, the importance of honest work and sharing
Distinctive features: Khalsa community, the Five Ks worn by initiated Sikhs (uncut hair, comb, steel bracelet, sword, special undergarment), turban for men
Geography in 1750: Concentrated in Punjab. By 1750, Sikhs were organizing politically against Mughal rule and would establish the Sikh Empire under Ranjit Singh in the early 1800s.

Comparison move for the exam: If a stimulus asks you to identify shared features across multiple belief systems, recognize the Abrahamic trio (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) shares monotheism, ethical commandments, and an origin in the Middle East. The Indian-origin trio (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism) shares concepts of karma and rebirth (though Sikhism modifies these). Confucianism is the outlier as an ethical system organized around social roles rather than deity.