  We have derived the star formation history of the Milky Way disk over the
last 2 Gyr from the age distribution diagram of a large sample of open clusters
comprising more than 580 objects. By interpreting the age distribution diagram
using numerical results from an extensive library of N-body calculations
carried out during the last ten years, we reconstruct the recent star formation
history of the Milky Way disk. Our analysis suggests that superimposed on a
relatively small level of constant star formation activity mainly in small-N
star clusters, the star formation rate has experienced at least 5 episodes of
enhanced star formation lasting about 0.2 Gyr with production of larger
clusters. This cyclic behavior seems to show a period of 0.4+/-0.1 Gyr.
