Why were axes, picks, and hoes important early iron tools?

Axes, picks, and hoes were essential early iron tools because they were specifically required for clearing forests and for cultivation.1

During the Early Iron Age, as iron became more accessible, these implements became vital for the development of agriculture. While early iron tools were sometimes ruder in appearance than the bronze items that preceded them, iron was significantly tougher and more flexible than bronze, which was prone to breaking under stress. The development of these tools was further enhanced by the discovery of carburization and heat-treating processes, which allowed smiths to create superior, hardened edged tools of great durability.1