Balloon:bə-ˈlüna nonporous bag of light material that can be inflated especially with air or gas
Here's an everyday object that you have most likely seen at birthday parties, carnivals, circus, or other celebratory events. But rest assured, these sacks of air have a complicated history just the same! Let's dive in and hopefully you learn a thing or two about balloons that you can pull out at your next birthday party.
The History of Balloons:
Ancient Aztecs: We start our journey back in the time of the Aztecs, where we have documentation of the first more, primitive balloons compared to the colorful helium pouches we have today. The Aztecs were a powerful society that dominated where is now modern Mexico. A society rich in history and culture, known for their astrological predictions, pyramids, and sacrifices. It is the latter that brings us to the beginning of our balloon journey.
The Aztecs had many gods and deities they worshipped. Some of which required both human and animal sacrifices. Legend has it the Sun God for the Aztecs, Huitzilopochtli, was in a constant war with darkness. In order for the sun god to prevail and stop the darkness from overtaking the world, he needed to be fed hearts and blood. That led the Aztecs to sacrificing. Tlaloc, the supreme god of rain, also required sacrifices. Often times, the Aztecs would catch rare animals to bring to the temples to sacrifice as they were more valuable to the gods. The group would catch everything from shellfish to birds; crocodiles to jaguars! But Ryan, what does any of this have to do with balloons? Well, the first balloon animals were not twisted by a clown at a birthday party.
In order to preserve their catches, the Aztecs created their own method of taxidermy. The organs of the animals would be removed, cleaned, inflated, then sewn shut with a sort of vegetable thread that stuck to itself once left in the sun. The crude balloon would be returned to the animal's body to help it keeps its shape when brought to the altar for sacrifice, giving a whole new meaning balloon animals.
Hot Air Balloons: Just jump ahead a bit, all the way to the year 1782. The location: France. The inventors: the Montgolfier brothers. While sitting by their fireplace, the brothers Joseph and Jacques became intrigued by what was causing the sparks and smoke to rise up. After a few quick tests, they were able to get a small silk bag to float above the flames.
The brothers kept testing with various materials, to see what best floated. They finally crafted a silk-like linen that would be used for their first balloon. On June 4th, 1782, the brothers took their 38 foot linen sack that was held together by more than 2,000 buttons and got it into the air as the first unmanned hot air balloon. The balloon floated roughly 1,000 feet into the air and flew for about a mile.
On September 19th of the same year, the brothers presented their idea to King Louis XVI. During that attempt, the brothers sent a duck, a sheep, and a rooster, making them the first passengers in a hot air balloon. King Louis didn't really care for all the horrible smoke that was used during the attempt, but the brothers believed that the smoke was what was causing the balloon to float, not the hot air.
Finally, on November 21st 1783, the first manned flight of a hot air balloon took place, well before the first airplane was ever crafted!
Modern Balloons:
But how did we get to the modern balloons we know today? Well in 1824, Michael Farraday created the first rubber balloon for laboratory use. He took two thing pieces of rubber, placed flour between the two sheets and sealed the edges. Farraday noticed that helium gave the balloons fantastic powers to rise. In 1847, Thomas Hancock, a rubber manufacturer, began producing balloon making kits and London businesses began selling them. Hancock's balloons were made of vulcanized rubber making them stronger and more elastic.
Balloons weren't produced in the United States until 1907. Not long after, more sausage shaped balloons came about and people began twisting them into more modern balloon animals in the late 1930's, early 1940's. Those balloons kept millions entertained, but that was until foil balloons were introduced in 1970's. Those balloons, which keep their shape better than rubber ones, took off after people realized they could write messages on them.
So the next time you're a birthday party with balloons, just be glad they're made of foil or rubber and not a jaguar's bladder.