Bricks are one of the oldest known building
materials dating back to 7000BC. They where
first discovered in southern Turkey and around
Jericho.
The
first bricks were sun dried mud bricks.
Which then evolved into fired bricks which were
found to be more resistant to harsher weather
conditions, which made them a much more reliable
brick for use in permanent buildings.
Fired brick were also useful for absorbing
heat generated throughout the day, and
releasing it at night.
The Ancient Egyptians also used sun dried mud
bricks as building materials. Paintings on the tomb
walls of relics portray slaves mixing, tempering
and carrying clay for the sun dried bricks.
The Romans further distinguished those which had
been dried by the sun and air and those bricks
which were burnt in a kiln. Preferring to make
their bricks in the spring, the Romans held on
to their bricks for 2 years before they were
used or sold. They only used clay which was
whitish or red for their bricks.
Using mobile kilns, the Romans were successful
in introducing kiln fired bricks to the whole of
the Roman Empire.
"The problem with bricks and
mortar is that over time weather will
erode and loosen joints"
The bricks were then stamped
with the mark of the legion who supervised the
brick production. These bricks differed from
other ancient bricks in size and shape.
Roman
bricks were more commonly round, square, oblong,
triangular or rectangular. The kiln fired bricks
were generally 1 or 2 Roman foot by 1 Roman
foot, but with some larger bricks at up to 3
Roman feet. The Romans preferred this type of
brick making during the first century of their
civilization and used the bricks for public and
private buildings all over the empire.
The Greeks also considered perpendicular brick
walls more durable than stone walls and used
them for public edifices. They also realized how
the modern brick was less susceptible to erosion
than the old marble walls.
The History of 'Bricks'
The
first bricks were sun dried mud bricks.
The Romans further distinguished those which had
been dried by the sun and air and those bricks
which were burnt in a kiln. Preferring to make
their bricks in the spring, the Romans held on
to their bricks for 2 years before they were
used or sold. They only used clay which was
whitish or red for their bricks. 
