Greece meets three major requirements for a successful revolution in 1821: material conditions among the populace are adverse enough to stimulate mass support for action; an ideological framework gives direction to the movement; and an organizational structure is present to coordinate the movement.

Greek intellectuals have provided the language and ideas necessary for a nationalist struggle, and episodes such as the Orlov Rebellion have provided a collective memory of violent resistance that make action feasible.

The other two conditions had developed during the 1810s; all three converge in the early 1820s.