We discuss the geometry of states of quantum systems in an n-dimensional Hilbert space in terms of an explicit parameterization of all such systems. The geometry of the space of pure as well as mixed states for n-state systems is discussed. The parameterization is particularly useful since it allows for the simple construction and isolation of various physically meaningful subspaces of the space of all density matrices. This is used to describe possible geometric phases, their calculation, and analyze entropy and purity (or linear entropy) functions. In particular we provide conditions under which nontrivial abelian and/or nonabelian geometric phases aris in these subspaces in terms of the given parameterization, an explicit example is given, and multidimensional ientopic surfaces are discused.