Rajasthan, the land of noble kings, valiant warriors and supreme sacrifice is also a riot of colours. The kings constantly fought each other, developing a warlike ethos and a defensive style of architecture. Trade sustained these kingdoms, for the trade route into India passed through the deserts of western India. Collectively, these princely states came to be known as Rajputana today it is known as the modern Indian state of Rajasthan. With the arrival of the Muslims to India and with the rise of the Mughals most Rajput kingdoms gradually lost their independence, and became a part of the mighty Mughal empire. With the decline of the Mughals, the Rajputs gradually clawed back their independence through a series of spectacular victories, but, by then a new force to reckon with, had emerged on the scene in the form of the British. Most Rajput states entered into alliances with the British, which allowed them to continue asindependent states, each with its own maharaja, subject to certain economic and political constraints. These alliances proved to be the beginning of the end of the Rajputs, and soon the extravagance and indulgence of the rulers led to the disintegration of the Rajput kingdoms.