In Search of a Thesis

Montaillou seems to be such an appropriate way to begin a study of microhistory because it is so indisputably about a microcosm of the fourteenth century French society it studies.  Not having much experience with microhistory, I am wondering whether the micro scale itself of this book is a part of the author's thesis.  In other words, by exploring new details and elements of the culture of this medieval society on a minute scale, can the thesis of the book simply be the factual history of these ordinary people?  Obviously readers can postulate a number of lessons about the period from these factual details.  For myself, the first thing that comes to mind is how much human nature and behavior has remained the same 700 years later (preoccupations with religion, wealth, family, betrayal, and sex).  Although I had trouble finding a more explicit thesis, and Ladurie gives us no formal conclusion, perhaps his comments at the end of the book are instructive when he noted that fourteenth century repression and contagion were unable to destroy the ancient habitat, and that fourteenth century Montaillou culture was directed toward a self-preservation that still exists (but perhaps is under threat from the modern world).

The index of families was very helpful in sorting our the various Montaillouians with similar names.  It would have also been helpful to have had a traditional index for terms, usually French terms, for which I found myself wanting to return to the page where they were originally defined, but having no index, could not find them.