A ƙarshen karni na 16, Baitalami ya zama ɗaya daga cikin manyan ƙauyuka a cikin Gundumar Urushalima, kuma an raba shi zuwa kashi bakwai. Iyali Basbus sun kasance shugabannin Baitalami a tsakanin sauran shugabanni a wannan lokacin. Bayanan haraji na Ottoman da ƙidayar jama'a daga 1596 sun nuna cewa Baitalami tana da yawan jama'a 1,435, wanda ya sanya ta zama ƙauye na 13 mafi girma a Falasdinu a lokacin. Jimlar kudaden shiga ya kai 30,000. Baitalami ta biya haraji a kan alkama, sha'ir da innabi. An tsara Musulmai da Krista a cikin al'ummomi daban-daban, kowannensu yana da jagoran kansa.
Cocin Katolika da na Orthodox na Girka