Why was the life of the peasants in the early Middle Ages very difficult?

The life of the peasants in the early Middle Ages was very difficult, because they were engaged in hard physical labor. At that time, there was no equipment, and the land was cultivated with the help of animals. It was necessary to get up very early in order to have time to cultivate more land. The wages were barely enough to feed a family and pay taxes. The harvest depended on natural conditions, so in bad years the peasants could be left without food at all. Harsh working and living conditions contributed to the development of diseases, so many people died long before old age.