I agree on that. it's not like there is completely no force of gravity acting on them (I mean if they're still around the earth) , it's that it's so little that they can't even notice it. they'll float around and they seems like they have no weight. this is called weightlessness.
The trading route most likely happen by ships through the Mediterranean Sea.
The only option besde that would be by land. But the distance required to do by land is further than those the sea and it has to pass the territory of Greece and Turkey, which will guarantee additional toll payment and reduce the traders' profit.
I don't believe that that is true due to the fact you can see soil even if there are no plants in it although im not 100% sure as soil and key components in it may be considered organic
Bordered by the coasts of Germany ,Denmark , Poland ,Sweden, Finland,Russia,Estonia ,Latvia among others