The expansive Section Six, "Russia's Catherine the Great," was located at the very core of Gottesman Hall and dealt with the substantive political, cultural, and legislative achievements of Catherine II during her reign. A sound station played ambient music by composers of the Russian Rococo. Section Seven, "Russian Exploration," visually documented Russia's ambitious commercial and scientific expeditions throughout both the empire and the world during the 18th and early 19th centuries.

Section Eight, "Engaging the Islamic Empires," on the south side of the gallery, dealt with Russia's complex engagements – military and cultural – with the Ottoman Empire, Safavid Persia, and Mughal India. In the window bay adjacent to this section was a large graphic banner depicting an 18th-century caravan into the Safavid capital of Isfahan. A sound station enabled visitors to listen to Ottoman Janissary martial music and Ottoman court music.