Final answer:
The chain pump increased agricultural productivity by enabling better water management for irrigation. This led to greater harvests, variety of crops, and allowed people to develop new trades, contributing to technological and economic growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The chain pump played a pivotal role in ancient agricultural practices by significantly enhancing irrigation systems. It enabled farmers to move water uphill to irrigate fields that would otherwise depend on natural rainfall. This ingenious device consisted of a series of pots or scoops attached to a looped chain, which was then rotated by a wheel mechanism. As the wheel turned, water was lifted from lower levels and dispersed throughout the fields, promoting fertile lands and higher yields.
With the advent of the chain pump, productivity improved due to better water management, particularly in areas where water was not readily accessible. In the context of Song China, the application of such machinery marked the dawn of an agricultural revolution. By allowing more land to be cultivated, not only by rain-fed methods but also with controlled irrigation, farmers could guarantee more stable and robust harvests, contributing to food security and the overall economy.
The increase in harvests also enabled farmers to engage in the cultivation of a greater variety of crops. The agricultural mechanization also indirectly promoted social progress, by freeing up labor from subsistence farming and allowing people to pursue other trades and crafts, which in turn stimulated the development of new technologies and economies.