Farming was difficult in ancient Greece mainly due to the mountainous terrain and poor, rocky soil , which made large-scale cultivation challenging. The limited availability of flat, fertile land forced Greeks to adapt by building terraces on hillsides and relying on hardy crops like barley, olives, and grapes suited to dry, poor soil conditions. The Mediterranean climate, characterized by long, hot, dry summers and short, mild winters, further complicated farming by limiting water availability, making irrigation essential but difficult given the rugged landscape. Additionally, the use of primitive tools such as the scratch plow and the necessity of leaving land fallow for extended periods due to nutrient depletion kept agricultural productivity low. Socio-political factors like land concentration in the hands of elites and wars disrupting farming also contributed to difficulties. Transport challenges limited moving produce to markets, and many farms were small-scale and labor-intensive, often relying on family labor or slaves. Despite these hardships, ancient Greeks developed techniques like crop rotation, terracing, and irrigation systems to sustain farming.