1) Stone masonry buildings tend to perform poorly during earthquakes due to their low strength and lack of connections between walls. Common failures include out-of-plane bending of walls, shear failures, and separation of walls at joints. 2) To improve earthquake resistance, masonry buildings should have simple plans, be no more than 2 stories tall, have integrated roofs, and fully supported floors. Openings should be small and centered. 3) Horizontal bands, vertical reinforcement, and good construction practices can improve seismic performance by binding walls together and preventing rocking or sliding of wall piers.