How did brickmaking spread from the Middle East to other regions?

The manufacture and use of brick spread from the Middle East as civilization expanded both eastward and westward.1

In the ancient river valleys of the Middle East, such as those of the Tigris and Euphrates, early communities developed mud brick as a primary building material. As these cultures advanced, techniques such as kiln-firing—derived from the potter's art—allowed for the production of more durable bricks. These methods were subsequently adopted and adapted by other civilizations:12

• Asia: The use of both sun-dried and burned bricks reached as far as China, where they were utilized in the construction of the Great Wall of China.1
• Europe: The Romans significantly advanced brickmaking, turning it into a major industry and state-controlled monopoly. They integrated brick with concrete to create monumental structures like the Pantheon.13
• The Americas: European settlers introduced brick construction to the New World. Notably, the Spanish transmitted the art of adobe brickmaking—a term derived from the Egyptian tōbe via Arabic—to North America, while the Dutch West India Company established early brick buildings in Manhattan.1