The body of water merchants had to cross was the Mediterranean Ocean.
Memphis was a city of the Egyptian Empire located in lower Egypt. It was considered an important economic center, as factories, workshops, and markets distributed food and other goods from there to the rest of the kingdom.
Crete is a city located in the Greek Islands. It is known for having a highly developed civilization even before the Roman rule. It was once the center of the Minoan Civilization, which is considered to be the oldest civilization in Europe.