Irrigation is the use of canals, ditches, and basins to water crops. All of these were built into a pattern that was best suited to get water to all of the crops in the fields. When water got up into the basins it saturated their crops. After the crops were fully watered, they would transfer the water with a Shadoof from the full basin to one that needed more water. This effective method of farming eventually became very popular and wide spread across many civilizations. 

Irrigation was a leading factor to the growth of the Ancient Egyptian civilization. Irrigation allowed the Ancient Egyptians to farm on larger scales. Large scale farming provided a large quantity of food. This abundance of food was also of better quality after the use of irrigation. Population increase was also a major result of having more crops. The Ancient Egyptians population went from the low hundred thousands to almost a million people living there. This is all an effect of the use of irrigation. 

Irrigation created the opportunity for trade. Having large scale farming gave them enough crops to trade. They traded their crops along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This created communication between Egypt and other civilizations along the Mediterranean Coast. Not only did the abundance of crops they grew help with food and trade, but the crops they grew also helped create things like medicine and cosmetics. Having more access to medicine improved the Ancient Egyptians quality of life.