Abstract: In the process for producing a homogeneous and finely crystalline silicon nitride ceramic, ceramic powder is milled, mixed with shaping aids, the mixture is shaped into parts and the shaped parts are subsequently sintered in a nitrogen atmosphere. According to the invention, sintering is carried out in a multistage process at temperatures T.sub.max in the range from 1700.degree. to 1900.degree. C. using gas pressures in the range from 0.3 to 50 MPa. In a first temperature stage, a temperature from 0.9 to 0.96.multidot.T.sub.max is maintained over a time period from 10 to 50 minutes at an N.sub.2 pressure from 0.2 to 1.2 MPa, while in a second temperature stage a temperature from 0.97 to 0.985.multidot.T.sub.max is maintained over a time period from 20 to 80 minutes at an N.sub.2 pressure from 3 to 6 MPa. Then the temperature is increased to T.sub.max and the pressure is increased to from 7 to 50 MPa.