There is some evidence that civilization before the flood was fairly advanced. Think about it. If everyone and all the kids they had in their lives lived to be 800 years old, the population would be huge, and people would have a lot more time to figure out what things were about (living to be that old and all). I don't want to get in to any kind of conspiracy theory garbage or anything like that — some people would argue that I already have, but here it is: There are some creationist theories about ancient atomic knowledge.
The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth--men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air--for I am grieved that I have made them.
Genesis 6
Gurkha,
flying a swift and powerful vimana
hurled a single projectile
Charged with all the power of the Universe.
An incandescent column of smoke and flame
As bright as the thousand suns
Rose in all its splendour...
a perpendicular explosion
with its billowing smoke clouds...
...the cloud of smoke
rising after its first explosion
formed into expanding round circles
like the opening of giant parasols...
..it was an unknown weapon,
An iron thunderbolt,
A gigantic messenger of death,
Which reduced to ashes
The entire race of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas.
...The corpses were so burned
As to be unrecognizable.
The hair and nails fell out;
Pottery broke without apparent cause,
And the birds turned white.
After a few hours
All foodstuffs were infected...
...to escape from this fire
The soldiers threw themselves in streams
To wash themselves and their equipment.
Excerpt from the Mahabharata (ancient Indian epic)
http://www.s8int.com/atomic1.html
Now obviously this site may have some problems, as it cites some conspiracy theory organizations, but please read the article on ancient atomic explosions. It is very interesting, and explanations are there even if you do not believe in a creation or flood.
I will post more later on the topic of history, as it very much relates to this debate. (I hope that this forum is not strictly science, because if it is, then history should be added)