Peasants made up the largest social class in ancient Egypt and were responsible for producing the country's food supply through farming. They depended on the three seasons of the Nile River - flooding, planting, and harvest - to grow crops like wheat and barley. Peasants lived with few comforts in mud brick houses with mats for furniture and subsisted on meals of vegetables, fish, and bread, rarely eating meat. Failure to meet harvest quotas could result in famine and severe punishment for peasants.