Egyptian agriculture has been historically significant, primarily relying on the annual flooding of the Nile River. This natural irrigation system deposited nutrient-rich silt on the land, allowing farmers to cultivate crops such as wheat, barley, and flax. The fertile soil and favorable climate contributed to the development of one of the world's earliest agricultural societies. In ancient times, farmers used simple tools like wooden plows and sickles to tend to their fields. They practiced a system of crop rotation to maintain soil fertility and relied on the Nile's predictable flooding cycle to plan their planting and harvesting seasons effectively.