The creation of the Greek state reworded the conditions in which the geography of the area was perceived. Until the end of the 19th century, there was a notion that the national territory, as well as territories outside the borders, should belong to Greece according to history and justice. Moreover, images of geographical units in which the Greek state was incorporated, or from which it tried to be excluded, became stabilized. Some of these areas were seen by the Greek liberation movement as an extension or future part of the state, and others as an area of activity. In this way the Greek state formed a series of circles or spheres, in the framework of which it developed its foreign policy and actions through institutional and non-institutional factors.

At the centre of the circles was the Greek state itself. Areas on the verge of integration into the Greek state, which maintained a peculiar semi-independent regime, such as the Ionian islands, Samos and Crete, were placed within a broader circle.
The next circle concerned target areas of the Greek liberation movement, which basically were the same as the provinces of the Ottoman Empire, and which were closer to Greek borders. In both circles, apart from official consular authorities, there were agents, patriot activists, educational associations and revolutionary committees also taking some degree of action.
The next circle contained areas where Greeks took action and where there were organized Greek colonies, without any aspirations or prospects for the Greek authority to predominate.
Finally, there was a circle containing countries with which the Greek state maintained diplomatic and political relations but where the Greek presence was small or unimportant, and where there was no particular interest. In these circles, it was mostly agents near the official consular authorities who took action.

During a period of dynamic changes, these circles changed in content and importance. The Ionian Islands and Thessaly became incorporated into the Greek state. Crete was constantly changing its regime until Prince George's arrival. The rise of Slavic nationalism in the Balkans made efforts towards the educational and political support of Hellenism in Macedonia and Thrace more intense.
Finally, the chart of Greek populations changed in the East - as seen from Greece, and the rest of the world as well - suggesting that Greek positions should be adjusted in order that issues concerning the external relationships of the Greek state should be dealt with.