The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing aluminum nitride and aluminum nitride prepared by the same. Pure aluminum powder having a median particle size (D50) of 1.52 μm was heated to a temperature in a range of 595° C.˜900° C. in a nitrogen containing atmosphere comprising nitrogen and argon gases, at atmospheric pressure for one hour to obtain aluminum nitride with a degree of nitridation exceeding 93%. According to the present invention aluminum nitride may be produced with high yield using a simple and inexpensive one-step heating method in a relatively short period of time.