Clusters and field star formation history in the Small Magellanic Cloud

In this paper we discuss the cluster and field star formation in the central part of the Small Magellanic Cloud. The correlation between young clusters and their interstellar environment is studied to infer hints about the mechanisms of cluster and field star formation. Evidence of gravitational triggered episode due to the most recent close interaction between SMC and LMC is found both in the cluster and field star distribution. However the SMC is relatively quiescent at ages older than 6-8 Cyr. This result suggests that at older ages, the tidal interaction between the Magellanic Clouds and the Milky Way was not able to trigger significant star formation events. Field star and cluster formation are not completely correlated, as expected on the basis of theoretical models.