Patrick Luiz Sullivan De Oliveira

Patrick Luiz Sullivan De Oliveira is an assistant professor of history at IE University in Madrid and author of Ascending Republic. He discusses the surprising revival of ballooning in 19th-century France, illustrating how this once-novelty became a symbol of national identity post-Franco-Prussian War. The conversation dives into the balloon's cultural symbolism, its association with social status, and the significant yet overlooked contributions of women in the field. De Oliveira also ties ballooning to French colonial ambitions and the evolution of flight into modern warfare.

Patrick Luiz Sullivan De Oliveira, an Assistant Professor of History at IU University in Madrid, dives into the thrilling world of 19th-century ballooning in France. He discusses how the enthusiasm for ballooning surged during the turbulent times of the Franco-Prussian War. Balloons transformed from mere spectacles to symbols of national identity, bridging science and patriotism. The podcast also explores the interplay between the French aristocracy and ballooning culture, as well as the literary influences shaping colonial ambitions, particularly through the works of Jules Verne.