Genesis 11:1

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.

Genesis 11:4
Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

In Genesis 9:1 God tells Noah and his family to “fill the earth”. God didn’t say to go build cities for yourselves. Cities often require leaders who tend to lead the people away from the authority of God.  Leaders become God substitutes.

The people wanted to “make a name for ourselves”. What “name”? And they didn't want to be scattered. Yet this is exactly what God wanted them to do. In fact, that is exactly what He DID do when He confounded their language, He scattered the people. Sounds as if pride was creeping in with the people in that day and we know what happens with pride.

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.