Real-world bricks were first made long before the Industrial Revolution. In fact, they date back almost ten thousand years to when they were first made by drying hand-shaped clay in the sun.
Later, it was discovered that baking bricks in an oven would make them much stronger and longer-lasting (suck it, the sun!), leading to Ancient Egyptian fortresses, Sri Lankan temples and medieval castles all being built out of bricks, many of which are still standing today. In fact, bricks were so useful to the Romans that their legions carried mobile brick kilns around wherever they went.
Today, bricks are one of the most common building materials around. They're used for structures in all sorts of shapes and sizes, from walls and houses to roads and cathedrals. There are lots of different kinds of specialised brick, made to be heat-resistant, acid-proof or particularly strong. Although if you live in a place full of acid that is constantly on fire, I'd consider just moving away. They also come in a range of colours - from London's red to yellow and even blue.
So the next time you're playing Minecraft on a low-end machine, with the draw distance way down, consider taking a lesson from London's Victorian architects and using bricks for your buildings rather than cobblestone. If nothing else, it'll be much easier to find your way home.
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