Genesis 10 is often called the Table of Nations. It lists the families that came from Noah's sons Shem, Ham and Japheth, and shows how the nations spread across the earth. Every people group has its place in God's story.
In Genesis 11 the whole earth is of one language. The people journey to a plain in the land of Shinar and say, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves.” Instead of filling the earth as God commanded, they want to stay together and make a name for themselves.
The LORD comes down to see the city and the tower. He confuses their language so that they cannot understand one another, and He scatters them abroad. The place is called Babel. Human pride that reaches for heaven without God ends in confusion.
Then Genesis 11 traces the line of Shem down to Terah, who lives in Ur of the Chaldees, and to his son Abram. Where people tried to make a name for themselves, God is about to make a name for a man of faith. On the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit reverses Babel as people of many languages hear the gospel in their own tongue.