Rashi comments that the people of the time of the Tower of BAvel began producing bricks because there were no stones in the low-lying region of Babylonia. Rav David Shaul Greenfeld (of Creteil, France), in his work Be-ne'ot Deshe, suggests that it is no accident that the people of this generation chose to live in a region with no rocks. They wanted to ensure that their city and tower would bear exclusively the imprint of human ingenuity, and resemble the raw, natural elements to as small an extent as possible.
Towards the end of Parashat Noach, the Torah tells the famous story of Migdal Bavel. We read that the people of the time traveled east and "found a valley in the land of Shinar, and they dwelled there" (11:2). Rashi, citing Bereishit Rabba, explains that they searched for an area large enough to contain them all, and the valley of Shinar, which later became known as Babylonia, was the only suitable location.
There may, however, be an additional reason for their selection of this region as the site for their settlement. The next verse tells that the people decided to begin producing bricks, which they used in place of stones for building. Ultimately, of course, they use the bricks for building the infamous "city and a tower with its top in the heavens" (11:4). Rashi comments that the people of the time began producing bricks because there were no stones in the low-lying region of Babylonia. Rav David Shaul Greenfeld (of Creteil, France), in his work Be-ne'ot Deshe, suggests that it is no accident that the people of this generation chose to live in a region with no rocks. As many writers have explained, the project of Migdal Bavel was intended as a celebration of human ingenuity and industriousness. When the Midrash speaks of the builders of the city planning to "wage war against God" (see Rashi, 11:9), it perhaps refers to a desire to establish mankind's independence and self-sufficiency, to demonstrate that they are no longer dependent on God's assistance and favor, and are capable of developing the world through their independent strengths and talents. As part of this endeavor, they specifically chose as the site for their "rebellion" a region with no natural building resources. They wanted to ensure that their city and tower would bear exclusively the imprint of human ingenuity, and resemble the raw, natural elements to as small an extent as possible.
The choice of Babylonia as the site for their residence was thus an integral part of their misguided vision, to create a society – and, ultimately, an entire world – that would not feel any sense of dependence on God, and that would establish mankind's self-sufficient ability to build and cultivate the earth.