The history of ceramic tiles dates back thousands of years and has played an important role in various civilizations.

In ancient times, the first examples of glazed tiles were found in Mesopotamia (around 4000 BC). These tiles were mainly used to decorate the walls of temples and palaces and were made using clay and colored glazes.

The ancient Egyptians (around 3000 BC) also used glazed tiles to decorate buildings and tombs. Egyptian tiles were usually decorated with geometric patterns and religious symbols.

The Chinese (around 2000 BC) have also been involved in the manufacture of ceramic tiles since ancient times. During this period, ceramic tiles and vessels were mainly produced for everyday and decorative purposes.

During the Greek and Roman periods, tiles were used to decorate the floors and walls of buildings, baths, and temples. The Romans also used stone mosaics to decorate floors.

The art of tile making reached its peak during the Islamic period. Muslim artists, using various techniques, produced very beautiful and diverse tiles that were used to decorate mosques, palaces, and other important buildings. Iranian, Spanish (especially Andalusian art), and Turkish tiles were very famous during this period. During this period, the techniques of gilding and enameling, as well as mosaic and seven-color tiles, were recognized as important techniques and were widely used in the works of art of that era.

With the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the production of ceramic tiles was carried out in large quantities and using machines. This reduced the price and increased the accessibility of these products.

In the 20th century, the use of new technologies in the production of ceramic tiles led to the creation of products of greater quality and variety.

Also during this period, the use of ceramic tiles in home interior decoration became very common.

Today, ceramic tiles have many uses in construction and interior decoration. These products are produced in a variety of designs, colors and sizes and are used to cover floors, walls, facades and other surfaces.

This brief history shows that ceramic tiles have played an important role in human life from the distant past to the present.

But it is obvious that the steps in making ceramic tiles have changed a lot throughout history due to the advancement of technology.

Here we will discuss the general steps in making them and their changes throughout history:

1-Preparation of raw materials:

• In ancient times, the main raw material was clay. It was extracted from local mines and then cleaned and prepared. And it was mixed with water to achieve the appropriate paste. Sometimes materials such as sand or crushed stones were added as additives to improve the properties of the paste.
• During the Islamic era, the techniques of preparing raw materials advanced and diversified the use of clay and glazes.
• In the modern era, purer and higher quality raw materials such as kaolin, feldspar and silica are used. The grinding and mixing process is completely mechanized and precise.

2-Shaping:

• In ancient times, clay paste was shaped manually. Tiles were usually shaped into squares or rectangles using simple wooden or clay molds.
• During the Islamic era, more precise and complex molds were used to produce tiles. All molding techniques were updated to create a variety of designs.
• In the modern era, clay paste is shaped using hydraulic or mechanical presses. The dough is extruded through the mold to take the desired shape.

3-Drying:

• In ancient times, tiles were exposed to air and sunlight to dry.
• In the Islamic era, covered places were used to dry tiles to prevent changes in temperature and humidity.
• In modern times, tunnels with controlled temperature and humidity are used to dry tiles quickly and evenly.

4-Firing:

• In ancient times, tiles were fired in clay or brick kilns using wood or charcoal fires. In that era, the temperature was controlled manually and was usually not constant.
• In the Islamic era, more advanced brick kilns with better design for temperature control were provided using a wider variety of fuels for firing tiles.
• In modern times, tiles are passed continuously through tunnel kilns and fired until the temperature and firing speed are precisely controlled to produce quality tiles.

5-Glazing:

• In ancient times, glazes were applied manually to the tiles or the tiles were dipped in glaze.
• In the Islamic era, various glazing methods such as spraying, brushing and dipping were used to create intricate artistic designs on the tiles.
• In modern times, glazing machines are used to apply glazes in a variety of colors and characteristics evenly and precisely.

6-Second firing (if any):

• In some cases, after glazing, the tiles are fired once more to ensure that the glaze adheres well to the surface of the tile.

7-Quality control and packaging:

• In ancient and Islamic times, quality control was done visually and manually.
• However, in modern times, advanced devices are used to check the dimensions, thickness, surface smoothness and other characteristics of the tiles and to pack them properly for transportation and to prevent damage to the tiles.

These general steps show how the process of making ceramic tiles has evolved throughout history. Each period, with its own technologies and methods, has helped improve the quality and variety of these products.