This course focuses on Sikhs in the early modern period (1550-1850), their cultural production, and their encounters with members of other religious traditions (Hindus, Sufis, Muslims, Jains). In addition to learning about shared historical, religious, and cultural contexts in which Sikhs and other groups interacted, students will be using theories and methods in Religious Studies to think critically and to develop skills in close reading of texts. Notions such as encounter, language choice, and religious identity will constitute a central thread and shape class discussions.